The global football body FIFA has been urged to reconsider its decision to make the US a co-host of the 2026 World Cup.

The NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned that US’ recent crackdown on migrants could mean players, fans, journalists, government officials, and families of athletes really want to be interrogated, detained, strip-searched or possibly turned back at the US border.

HRW Director of Global Initiatives Minky Worden has said that FIFA needs to be prepared to reconsider its hosting decision.

She said that when FIFA awarded the 2026 World Cup to the then “United Bid” of the US, Canada, and Mexico, it promoted the tournament as one that would “unite and inspire people to create positive change through football”.

The announcement followed anti-LGBTQ discrimination at Russia’s 2018 World Cup and criticism of Qatar’s 2022 World Cup, where thousands of migrant workers died building infrastructure.

“FIFA promised greater accountability. The 2026 World Cup is also the first men’s World Cup with a published Human Rights Strategy, advertised as raising the bar for sports events worldwide,” Ms Worden said, writing in Newsweek.

But since taking office, President Trump has issued executive orders overturning refugee rights and targeting vulnerable migrant populations. Student visa applications have been halted and are subject to social media vetting.

Would-be tourists are forced to disclose social media account details and face heightened screening at border crossings, leading to a rise in denials of entry for travellers, conference participants, and teenage tourists.

Already, two fans of the Portuguese club Benfica fans were left out of pocket after being denied entry to the United States ahead of the Club World Cup.

The US’ new hardline stance on immigration saw the supporters, who had booked flights and secured tickets for Benfica’s opening match against Boca Juniors in Miami, had their travel plans shattered after being refused electronic travel authorisation without explanation.

“The Trump administration has carried out detentions and visa revocations of international students, and wrongfully deported asylum seekers and legal US residents to El Salvador, Panama, Costa Rica, and Rwanda. Even refugees vetted and cleared by the US have been blocked from entry.” Ms Worden said.

“So even with a visa to attend the World Cup, will players, fans, journalists, government officials, and families of athletes really want to be interrogated, detained, strip-searched, and possibly turned back at the U.S. border? Why risk thousands of dollars to be humiliated and possibly denied entry?” she said.

“So far, FIFA hasn’t criticized Trump’s harmful immigration policies. Infantino’s silence represents not just a business risk failure but also a betrayal of FIFA’s own human rights principles. FIFA’s statutes and human rights policy say that it will use its leverage to protect human rights and positively contribute to their enjoyment,” including through “constructive engagement with relevant authorities.”

Ms Worden said that as the countdown to the 2026 World Cup begins, FIFA must do more than claim “the world is welcome in America” when the evidence points to the opposite.

Ms Worden called on President Trump, who made himself chair of the White House Task Force on the World Cup, to ensure that all qualified teams, media, and fans will have equal access to the tournament regardless of nationality, religion, gender, or opinion.

“FIFA needs to press the Trump administration to roll back the pernicious visa policies and practices that threaten migrants and foreign visitors in the US,” she said.

“Without such guarantees, FIFA needs to be prepared to reconsider its hosting decision. The beautiful game deserves better than to be played against a backdrop of ugly anti-human rights policies,” Ms Worden said.