Rights groups have urged FIFA to ensure the 2026 World Cup upholds commitments to inclusivity and safety, warning that U.S. immigration policies and concerns over press freedom could undermine the tournament, Reuters reported. 

The Sport & Rights Alliance said the governing body had promised a "safe, welcoming and inclusive" competition under its Human Rights Framework but that rhetoric and immigration policies under U.S. President Donald Trump risked creating fear among fans, journalists and communities.

"Football brings the world together — but not if U.S. visa bans and mass deportation raids keep immigrants, workers, journalists, communities, and fans away," the coalition of rights groups wrote in a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino released on Thursday, according to Reuters.