As the World Cup buzz grows, a stern warning has been issued to international travelers by a group of human rights organizations. Visitors to the United States, with a pointed focus on Florida, have been cautioned about what the coalition labels as "potential dangers" to their rights and security in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup.
According to Local 10 News, advocates are particularly worried about escalated immigration enforcement tactics. In a public expression of concern, these advocates, representing groups like the ACLU of Florida and the Florida Immigrant Coalition, have stated, "We’re hearing the concerns from many people," as Yareliz Mendez-Zamora of the American Friends Service Committee Florida articulated. Likewise, Thomas Kennedy of the Florida Immigrant Coalition highlighted that visitors could face increased enforcement because of the state and federal crackdown.
In a statement made in Coral Gables, outside the offices of FIFA, the coalition warned prospective attendees from diverse global regions, especially "people of color, visitors from Latin America, Africa, and Asia, and dual-nationals," of the possible risks. The Palm Beach Post further reported that documented cases exist of tourists, and even U.S. citizens being detained or held disproportionately by law enforcement for immigration-related checks.
While the outcry from advocacy groups intensifies, FIFA has not yet provided an official response on this matter. Nonetheless, they have affirmed to Local 10 News that the safety and inclusivity of fans and players are a top priority. FIFA pointed to the smooth operations during the Club World Cup matches as an indication of how they expect this year's World Cup to proceed. However, the incidents of ICE agents allegedly killing two U.S. citizens in Minnesota have raised the intensity of these concerns, according to the coalition's press conference announcement.
The host city, Miami Gardens, is preparing for its share of the World Cup matches with teams from Brazil, Uruguay, Scotland, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde, Argentina, Colombia, and Portugal visiting in June. As these nations prepare to showcase their talents, the off-pitch narrative is one of caution, prompting some, like former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and Mark Pieth, a Swiss attorney, to call for a boycott of the World Cup matches in the United States.
