Human rights organisations have warned that this summer's World Cup will be a "bonanza of sportswashing," accusing the Trump administration of using the tournament as a political tool to divert attention from alleged abuses. The Sport and Rights Alliance (SRA), which includes Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International, has called for stronger protections for individual rights ahead of the event, which kicks off in six weeks.
Sportswashing Concerns
HRW's Minky Worden defined sportswashing as the "practice of using a beloved sporting event to attract fans and positive coverage that might also serve to cover up serious human rights abuses." She argued that the term, previously applied to autocratic regimes, now fits the current US administration. The US is co-hosting the tournament with Mexico and Canada.
"This was supposed to be the first ever World Cup with a human rights framework: key protections for workers, fans, players and communities," Worden said. "Instead, the US administration's brutal immigration crackdown, discriminatory policies and threats to press freedom mean the tournament risks being defined by exclusion and fear. I think we are here to say that the problem of sportswashing is alive and well and this World Cup will be a bonanza for sportswashing."
Worden cited the administration's use of the World Cup and Winter Olympics to promote its political messages, stating: "In the United States, Donald Trump has made a singular effort to weaponise sports, both to cover up the aggressive immigration enforcement campaign and also to present the impression that this [World Cup] is a safe and fun event. Our message today is it's neither safe nor particularly fun and probably quite unprecedented in the challenges that we're seeing."
Lack of Human Rights Plans
HRW reported that of the 16 host cities, only four—Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, and Vancouver—have published mandatory "Host City Human Rights Action Plans." Concerns also persist over US travel restrictions on several nations, including four World Cup qualifiers, and the potential response to protests in or near host cities.
Martin Endemann, head of policy at Football Supporters Europe, another SRA member, noted less engagement from US authorities compared to their Qatari counterparts four years ago. "People don't really know what to expect," he said. "Normally we have some expectations, but I have absolutely no clue. I have no clue what happens after the first protest in the stadium. I have no clue what happens at the first protest outside the stadium, maybe from civil society, maybe from the community, maybe from fans. And I have no clue how the police in the US reacts on misdemeanours. Let's be honest, there will always be fans who do stupid stuff. What will be the response of the American police?"
Fifa and the Department for Homeland Security have been approached for comment.
Concerns Over ICE Actions
Fifa's annual congress takes place in Vancouver on Thursday, where Norway's Lise Klaveness will join other federation presidents seeking assurances that the World Cup poses minimal risk to travelling supporters. The US portion is of particular concern due to potential raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operatives.
"We are very concerned that it should be inclusive and safe for everybody regardless of ethnicity, which country you come from, your sexual orientation," Klaveness said. "This is something we know Fifa agrees with us on and we want to address to Fifa leadership how they are working to prevent, for example, ICE actions to make sure all fans can come to the stadiums safely. We hope to speak to Fifa leadership both in the congress and after it to address this issue and support their work in these matters."
Fifa Peace Prize Controversy
Klaveness also called for the abolition of the Fifa peace prize, which was awarded to Trump by Fifa president Gianni Infantino at the World Cup draw in December without council approval. The award prompted a complaint from FairSquare, which promotes accountability in sport, to Fifa's ethics committee. FairSquare argued the award and Infantino's comments breached Fifa's political neutrality.
"We want to see it abolished," Klaveness said. "We don't think it's part of Fifa's mandate to give such a prize, we think we have a Nobel Institute that does that job independently already. We think it's important for football federations, confederations and also Fifa to try to avoid situations where this arm's length distance to state leaders is challenged and these prizes will typically be very political if you don't have really good instruments and experience to make them independent."
Klaveness urged a transparent process for FairSquare's complaint: "There should be checks and balances on these issues, and this complaint from FairSquare should be treated with a transparent timeline, and the reasoning and the conclusion should be transparent."
