The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup: Know Your Rights, Know Your Risks

Despite abhorrent conditions and increasing deaths in ICE detention, the Trump administration’s new warehouse detention system would increase capacity to 96,000 people and undoubtedly lead to continued abuse.

The coalition has issued a travel advisory for fans, players, journalists, and other visitors attending the 2026 World Cup in areas impacted by the Trump administration’s militarized immigration crackdown.

NEW YORK — More than 120 civil society groups issued a travel advisory today warning that fans, players, journalists and other visitors traveling for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup could be at risk of serious rights violations as the Trump administration doubles down on its draconian immigration and anti-human rights agenda. In their advisory, the groups state that, in the absence of meaningful action from FIFA, host cities or the Trump administration, people traveling to the United States and domestically could be at risk of: Arbitrary denial of entry and risk of arrest, detention and/or deportation Expanded restrictions and limitation on travel and entry to the U.S. Invasive social media screening and searches of electronic devices Violent and unconstitutional immigration enforcement, including racial profiling Suppression of speech and protest and increased surveillance Cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment – and even death – while in ICE detention or custody The advisory also encourages travelers, including thousands of journalists expected to cover the games, to take steps to protect themselves, such as securing electronic devices by removing facial recognition capabilities when traveling; alerting family, friends or trusted colleagues of plans to travel to and within the U.S.; and consulting other “Know Your Rights” resources. The 2026 World Cup, which will be held between June 11 and July 19, could bring as many as 10 million visitors to 11 U.S. cities this summer, making it the largest sporting event in history. In February 2026 – just days after ICE agents shot and killed Nicole Good in Minneapolis – ICE said agents would play a “key part” in the security at this summer’s tournament, raising concerns of potential ICE violence and increased enforcement activity in host cities. Quotes from signatories are as follows: “FIFA has been paying lip service to human rights while cozying up with the Trump administration, putting millions of people at risk of being harmed and their basic rights violated,” said Jamil Dakwar, ACLU human rights program director. “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.” “The specter of immigration enforcement this summer has become the leading concern among grassroots organizations across host cities. Irrespective of their focus area – housing, labor, immigration – this issue has become a galvanizing topic. With less than two months to go, we are still waiting for public commitments from FIFA and host city organizers about plans to protect residents, workers, and visitors. The silence has been deafening,” said Jennifer Li, who leads Dignity 2026, a national coalition working with grassroots groups in host cities, which counts multiple signatories among its members. “We are excited for fellow supporters to experience the World Cup and our North American soccer culture, but there are still too many unknowns across host cities. This advisory is about urging caution so that fans can arrive prepared, stay safe, and avoid preventable issues that could also place a strain on local communities and resources,” said Bailey Brown, President of the Independent Supporters Council North America. “Fans, journalists and others traveling to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup risk encountering a deeply troubling human rights landscape, shaped by the Trump administration’s racist immigration policies, mass detention and deportation, and attacks on freedom of expression and peaceful protest,” said Daniel Noroña, Americas Advocacy Director with Amnesty International USA. “If the U.S. 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 traveling fans, journalists, players and people already living in the U.S. alike."   The full travel advisory is available here: https://www.aclu.org/documents/2026-world-cup-travel-advisory Spanish translation: https://www.aclu.org/documents/spanish-translation-2026-world-cup-travel-advisoryArabic translation: https://www.aclu.org/documents/arabic-2026-world-cup-travel-advisory French translation: https://www.aclu.org/documents/french-2026-world-cup-travel-advisory

FORT MYERS, Fl. – A federal court granted a preliminary injunction today that requires Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Florida Department of Emergency Management to provide access to legal counsel for people detained at the Everglades Detention Facility, commonly referred to as “Alligator Alcatraz.” The ruling comes more than a month after the court heard oral arguments and client testimony during a two-day hearing, where people formerly detained at the Everglades Detention Facility described horrific conditions, being denied the opportunity to speak with an attorney, and even the denial of access to papers and pencils. Specifically, the preliminary injunction issued by federal district judge Sheri Polster Chappell requires ICE to provide readily-available confidential outgoing legal calls to people detained at the facility, as well as publish information about how attorneys and people detained may contact one another. The order also states that ICE must continue their newly enacted policy of allowing attorneys to visit the facility without prescheduling visits, on behalf of the entire class. The court also certified the case as a class action, which means that it protects all people currently at the Everglades Detention Facility, and persons held there in the future. Quotes from co-counsel and plaintiff organizations are as follows: “Today’s ruling is a major victory and underscores what we’ve known to be true all along: access to legal counsel is a constitutional right – not a privilege – for all people in this country, and the State of Florida and ICE cannot lock people up with no way to speak to an attorney,” said Corene Kendrick, Deputy Director of the National Prison Project at the American Civil Liberties Union. “We won’t stop fighting until this abusive facility is shut down once and for all.” “Access to counsel is one of the most basic safeguards in our legal system,” said Paul R. Chavez, Director of Litigation & Advocacy at Americans at Immigrant Justice. “Today’s ruling reinforces the importance of meaningful access to legal counsel for people in immigration detention. Confidential communication with an attorney is essential to a fair legal process, and people navigating detention deserve a genuine opportunity to understand and exercise their rights. We will continue working to ensure these protections are fully implemented.” “Access to an attorney is essential for people in immigration detention—especially at a time when we are witnessing due process being sidelined,” said Amy Godshall, Staff Attorney at the ACLU of Florida. “As mass deportation policies expand and Florida deepens its use of 287(g) agreements, access to legal counsel is one of the last safeguards protecting people from unjust deportation or family separation. No one should have to fight deportation alone and without counsel from inside a detention center—it’s a basic constitutional right.” "When a facility obstructs timely and confidential access to counsel, it makes meaningful legal representation virtually impossible,” said Katie Blankenship, Founder of Sanctuary of the South and an organizational plaintiff in this case. “That is not a minor barrier; it is a direct violation of due process. People are left to navigate life-altering immigration proceedings without the ability to communicate with their attorneys. This is unconstitutional and unacceptable. The Court correctly recognized that these policies are unlawful and are inflicting serious harm every day." A copy of the ruling is available here: https://www.aclu.org/cases/c-m-v-noem?document=Class-Cert-and-PI-Order