Atlanta – Human rights scandals have marked the World Cup for years, but FIFA tests a new protocol that requires all host committees to develop action plans to protect human rights for 2026 games in North America.
With games less than a year, despite FIFA’s commitment to support human rights It is still under scrutiny. Human rights defenders who wanted more implementable criteria and clearer trends say to local officials that FIFA has abandoned a more powerful model of plans.
“Although when we landed it is completely different from what we consulted, the presence of the frame is in many unprecedented ways. Sports bodies did not have human rights frameworks that reflect the breadth of cases that are covered across many judicial states, but the plan is the plan is just a plan. The Dignity 2026 coalition, which works with FIFA on human rights.
In addition to the uncomfortable advocates of defenders, many of the American host committees said they could not fulfill a final date in March for an early project for their plans. A FIFA spokesman said that the ruling body is working closely with the host cities and provinces, which they say is on the way to developing final action plans by the deadline on August 29. Sixteen sites in North America will host games, including 11 in the United States
Human rights fears in North America are different from those in other countries where FIFA was fire, which had little protection for workers and huge stadium construction projects and transportation. Migrant workers’ work The burning heat of Qatar For more than a decade before the 2022 World Cup there, human rights advocates fear the lives of immigrant workers again In danger in the Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaWhich will host games in 2034.
FIFA suggestions For plans 2026 include guidelines for non -discrimination, security, preventing trafficking, protecting non -distinguished persons and workers’ rights, including for migrant workers.
“The host societies are completely investing in their legacy, so they went up,” said Deborah Greenfield, an expert in work rights, who is in an expert consultant group that supports FIFA in FIFA for 2026.
US President Donald Trump has increased the enforcement of immigration throughout the country, which raised fears that federal law enforcement employees will arrest workers and even travelers during games. Trump Imposing a travel ban In 12 countries in June, seven confrontation restrictions.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has close ties with Trump. A FIFA spokesman said he is working with a working group at the White House to “gather millions of people from different countries and societies” in the United States together.
The demonstrators met in Miami Dead Province outside FIFA offices in June to demand the ruling authority of travelers and workers and speaking against Trump’s movements. This came after the cancellation of an event at the club’s World Cup in the region by the Spanish television network Telemundo, after the unlikely to inspect the Coast Guard, at least included at least one border agent at least.
“There is no guarantee that you may not have snow in the World Cup,” said Jeff Mitchell, President of South Florida in Florida. Jeff Mitchell.
Mitchell said that the local organizers do not seem to be their own human rights plan and did not agree to meet the union. He pointed out that the region has a history of theft of wages in a state with weak laws to protect against heat for workers.
“FIFA organizations like to say they have these human rights efforts, but they do not pay them,” Mitchell said. “They leave it up to the local population to do so. What tends to happen is that everyone gets their bag and then turns a party to ensuring that people receive their salaries properly or not harassment.”
Miami Dead officials referred the Associated Press to the local host committee, which did not respond to requests for comment.
More than 9,000 people who are not deserved were arrested when Atlanta prepared to host the Olympic Games in 1996, and a plan to get rid of homelessness in the city center before the World Cup worried about defenders that unique people will be imprisoned again.
Officials and partners in Atlanta say the emerging plan in the city center is part of the investment of the largest mayor in reducing homelessness and building housing at reasonable prices. Officials say the goal is to house people, not their position in prison.
In California, the Democratic Ruler, Gavin News, called on the cities to Ban camps In May and offered funds for mental health and drug abuse treatment. Cities with imminent sporting events have increased Including San JoseWhere people who reject three shelters will now be qualified to arrest on charges of infringement of others’ property. The mayor said that politics would encourage people to move inside.
“This rush is in a state of panic to disappear visible signs of poverty,” said Dr. Mark Spencer, a hospital doctor in Atlanta participating in the local invitation. “Politicians and business community know that visible signs of poverty are unpopular, and this is the driving force behind what is happening. It is not a matter of human rights in any meaningful way.”
FIFA Human Rights Policy It was published in 2017, stipulating the 2026 World Cup offers for men to respect “human rights and international workers standards in accordance with the guidelines of the United Nations.”
A group of international lawyers a Official complaint To FIFA in May claim that the Football Authority fails to support its human rights policy with 2034 World Cup hosts Saudi Arabia.
In North America, Greenfield said that FIFA occupies the goal of a “respect and reinforcing human rights” championship seriously and you will not participate in this effort if you don’t think that is possible.
Candice Stansel, chief stock official in Atlanta, said the city is committed to human rights before FIFA came and made efforts to combat human trafficking at airports, hotels and public transport. Officials are working on potential language tools, accessories for persons with disabilities and applying to report issues, including human rights violations.
One of the largest work organizations in Seattle and the organizing committee in the city signed the work standards agreement last year. The International Labor Organization has described the FIFA human rights framework as “an important step forward in harnessing the strength of sport to enhance decent work worldwide,” adding that it is in line with international work standards.
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Kramoun is a member of the Associated Press Corps/report of America’s news. Report on America It is a non -profit national service program that places journalists in local news rooms to report secret issues.