Amnesty International published 'Humanity Must Win' on 31 March 2026, upgrading overall World Cup tournament risk to 'medium to high.' The report audited all 16 host cities; only 4 had published human rights plans, and none of those plans addressed immigration enforcement measures. Dallas, Houston and Miami had signed ICE collaboration agreements with local law enforcement . Toronto closed a warming shelter used by unhoused people to accommodate FIFA operations. Amnesty reported US deportations exceeded 500,000 in 2025.
The report draws a documented distinction between US and Canadian host cities that goes beyond formal policy. Vancouver Police chief explicitly confirmed: 'ICE is not being deployed, nor have they been invited or approved, to participate in security oversight for FIFA 2026 in Vancouver.' Two countries, two legal environments, one tournament: the record is now explicit on both sides. Dallas, Houston and Miami have agreements; Vancouver has a formal prohibition.
The context from prior reporting sharpens the picture. ICE acting director Todd Lyons told Congress in March that ICE would be 'a key part of the overall security apparatus' and declined to rule out enforcement near World Cup venues . Three House Democrats introduced bills to ban ICE enforcement at World Cup locations; those bills face near-certain defeat in the Republican-controlled Congress. Amnesty's report provides the human rights evidence base; the legal route via those bills is closed. The practical remedy for fans from affected nations is to avoid US host cities, which is neither a solution nor what FIFA promised when awarding the tournament.
