WASHINGTON, DC — The American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, and more than 120 civil society groups issued a travel advisory on April 23, 2026, warning foreign visitors of human rights risks at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States. The advisory cited a deteriorating human rights situation in the country and the absence of meaningful action and concrete guarantees from FIFA, host cities, or the U.S. government.

The tournament begins in June 2026, with matches hosted across Mexico, Canada, and the United States. Between 5 million and 10 million visitors are expected to travel to the U.S. for the event.

The advisory called on fans, players, journalists, and other visitors to exercise caution and to have an emergency contingency plan when traveling to and within the United States. It warned of arbitrary denial of entry, the risk of arrest, detention, or deportation of non-U.S. nationals at ports of entry, and pointed to U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents' broad discretion to admit, detain, or deny entry. It also warned of invasive social media screening and expanded restrictions on travel.

At least 39 countries are subject to wide-ranging U.S. travel bans with only narrow exceptions. According to the American Immigration Council, Iran and Haiti are subject to bans on all immigrant and non-immigrant visas, while Ivory Coast and Senegal face partial bans. Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia are subject to the Visa Bond Program, which requires citizens of certain countries to post a $15,000 bond before traveling to the United States.

The advisory also warned of violent and unconstitutional immigration enforcement, suppression of speech and protest, increased surveillance, and serious risk of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment in U.S. immigration detention facilities. It recommended that attendees secure electronic devices, download an app that can immediately notify emergency contacts of detention, and review know-your-rights resources.

"FIFA has been paying lip service to human rights while cosying up with the Trump administration, putting millions of people at risk of being harmed and their basic rights violated," ACLU human rights programme director Jamil Dakwar said. "The Trump administration's abusive actions continue to threaten our communities, tourists, and fans alike – and it's past time that FIFA use its leverage to push for meaningful policy changes and binding assurances that will make people feel safe to travel and enjoy the games," he added.

Daniel Norona, America advocacy director with Amnesty International USA, said: "If the US government and host cities cannot guarantee the rights and safety of all, this tournament risks falling far short of FIFA's promise of a safe, welcoming, and inclusive event for travelling fans, journalists, players, and people already living in the United States alike."

White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said: "The 2026 World Cup will no doubt be one of the greatest and most spectacular events in the history of mankind, attracting millions of fans from around the world to eleven host cities across America. President Trump is focused on ensuring that this is not only an incredible experience for all fans and visitors, but also the safest and most secure in history – and no amount of ridiculous scare tactics driven by liberal activist groups and the left-wing media will change that."

In April 2026, The Athletic reported that FIFA President Gianni Infantino was considering a direct appeal to President Trump to suspend immigration enforcement surrounding the World Cup. A U.S. envoy asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy, a request FIFA has not confirmed. FIFA previously maintained that the Iranian team had the right to participate in the tournament.