A coalition of over 120 civil rights and activist groups has issued a stark travel advisory warning international fans that visiting the United States ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup could expose them to arbitrary detention, social media searches, racial profiling, and potential abuse during immigration enforcement. The advisory specifically cites risks under current Trump administration policies, including denial of entry, inhumane detention conditions, electronic device inspections, suppression of free speech, and alleged mistreatment by U.S. immigration authorities.
The advisory directly targets vulnerable travelers—immigrant communities, racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ individuals, and journalists—urging them to prepare emergency plans, protect personal devices, alert contacts about travel arrangements, and consult legal resources for rights protection. The groups emphasize that organizers of the World Cup have not provided sufficient public commitments safeguarding visitors or workers from systemic risks linked to immigration enforcement practices in major host cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Minneapolis.
U.S. Travel Association President Geoff Freeman has criticized the advisory as politically motivated, arguing it threatens tourism-dependent small businesses and local economies that rely on international visitors. He asserts that questioning traveler safety for political reasons undermines the economic benefits of the event. The White House World Cup Task Force has dismissed the warnings as “scare tactics,” insisting legal travelers face no immigration risks under current policy and maintaining that enforcement targets individuals who enter the country illegally, not lawful spectators.
The advisory coincides with heightened tensions over how the U.S. will be perceived globally during this major sporting event—a moment when critics argue the administration’s approach to immigration has made America unsafe for vulnerable groups. Activists contend FIFA host cities and federal agencies have failed to address systemic risks, while tourism officials warn that fearmongering could damage economies reliant on millions of international attendees.