19 alarming quotes about the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup

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Why is sportanddev republishing these quotes?

sportanddev exists to serve sport for development in all its forms. Certain ways in which the FIFA Men's World Cup 2026 is being organised may subvert human rights and sport’s broader efforts to contribute to development and peace. Many actors using sport to serve society better — including but not limited to grassroots organisations, reporters, athletes and officials — are likely to face risks in the lead up to, during and possibly after the World Cup.

Sport & Rights Alliance Press Conference: 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup | Watch on Youtube

At the Sport and Rights Alliance (SRA) press briefing, panelists (view list) including former players, community organizers, press freedom advocates, and fan representatives discussed how FIFA's failure to uphold its human rights framework has created a dangerous climate of fear and repression affecting athletes, fans, journalists, and workers.

June 3rd media briefing panelists

Matt Pacifici, former US professional player, Athlete Ally ambassador
Maxime Gleizes, brother of Christophe Gleizes, wrongly-imprisoned French football journalist
Thibaut Bruttin, Director-General of Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
Bailey Brown, President of Independent Supporters Council
Ronan Evain, Executive Director of Football Supporters Europe
Minky Worden, Director of Global Initiatives, Human Rights Watch
Andrea Florence (moderator), Executive Director, Sport & Rights Alliance

Key issues

Key issues highlighted included strict immigration policies and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement, visa restrictions that prevent players and fans from attending, lack of anti-discrimination protections, concerns about press freedom for journalists covering the tournament, and the exclusion of fans with disabilities due to problematic ticketing policies.

The panelists called for immediate action from FIFA including an ICE truce during the tournament, establishment of clear grievance mechanisms, legal protections for fans and journalists, and transparent anti-discrimination policies to ensure the World Cup truly unites people from around the world.

Quotes

This is a World Cup that should have been guided by human rights and a human rights framework from the beginning, and it has not been.

We are witnessing a distinctly dangerous climate of fear, uncertainty, and repression.

In just the last week, we have seen violent ICE policing and use of chemical irritants at Delaney Hall in New Jersey, where detained immigrants are going on hunger strikes and labor strikes in protests of maggot-ridden food, inadequate medical care, and inhumane treatment.

This is going to be the first World Cup without people with disabilities in the stadium. FIFA has decided to charge [disability] companions as if it was a commodity. If [you need a companion] and want to follow your team all the way to the final, this is going to cost you $14,000. So this is essentially a tax that is being put on people with disabilities.

Our players are not safe, tourists are not safe, and our own communities...are not safe.

[Athletes] have had to work over a four-year period extremely hard to qualify for this tournament, and then their participation is qualified by someone who Infantino disgracefully presented with this ridiculous FIFA Peace Prize.

Hotlines are going to be very important, along with grievance mechanisms. If there is an abuse, know your rights…and report. Because FIFA hasn't protection put in place. Everyone needs to act on this. Fan groups are having to do the work of FIFA.

President Donald Trump's harsh anti-human rights rhetoric, aggressive immigration policies, and mass deportation raids have already cast a dark shadow over the world's biggest sporting event.

Some players and team staff are having concerns at even being allowed to participate or to officiate on their own World Cup.

The participation of not just athletes, but particularly fans...is a non-negotiable. Well, it has become negotiable.

We didn’t have a climate in Qatar... where we were thinking that if athletes made a statement during the World Cup, they may well be removed from the country.

Players certainly know that they will be attacked, including publicly by US officials.

Many fans from around the world have been denied the opportunity to see their own national team — in many cases in their first ever World Cup participation —it's quite unbelievable, frankly.

FIFA today has a responsibility to ensure that any journalist covering the event is treated respectfully and lawfully.

When Host Nation permits hostility or discrimination against the LGBTQ community... it really gives off the message to these children that their dreams are conditional.

Are their families even going to be safe when they’re in the US watching the World Cup? They don’t know that.

Our communities want to participate in the games, and yet they’re terrified.

This World Cup, instead of uniting, [is] tearing communities apart and tearing families apart.”

We are now experiencing the games happening to us instead of with us.

Next steps

Independent Supporters Council: Launch the FrontlineFC.org website with a "Know Before You Go" section to clarify code of conduct and policies for fans.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF): Continue to mobilize the global media community to raise awareness about Christophe's case and ensure his name is widely known during the World Cup.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF): Monitor FIFA and local/federal government actions regarding press freedom during the World Cup and provide support to journalists via the hotline (worldcup@rsf.org).
Human Rights Watch: Encourage stakeholders (journalists, fans, workers, players) to file grievances using FIFA's existing but poorly publicized grievance mechanism.
Yareliz Mendez Zamora / American Friends Service Committee: Organize watch parties at safe locations, set up rapid response teams with legal observers, and maintain a hotline for community support during the World Cup.
Sport and Rights Alliance: Follow up with a recording of the briefing and a public statement with comments from panelists.