FIFA received 145 reports relating to human rights concerns at the Club World Cup in the United States, many of which were complaints submitted by supporters through the governing body’s own grievance mechanism portal. The highest number related to fans expressing concerns about U.S. government policies or their enforcement, with the second-most coming from fans who suffered from extreme heat during the tournament.
The grievance mechanism is in place for supporters who wish to express concerns about the organization or the experience at FIFA-led events. Some reports were received via the portal, some fans used FIFA’s human rights email address, and others were made on-site by venue teams reporting into FIFA.
In a closing speech to this summer’s Club World Cup, held in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York, the FIFA president Gianni Infantino claimed the tournament passed by without “one single incident” and said “everything happened in a joyful atmosphere.”
However, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation, all of whom wished to remain anonymous to protect relationships, 145 reports were raised with FIFA by those attending the tournament and were deemed sufficiently important to be addressed.
These included 37 complaints categorized as being related to federal policies or enforcement. Some of these included fans raising concerns as to whether the tournament and next summer’s World Cup should be held in the U.S., citing the actions, policies and words of the administration under President Trump. Other complaints centred on alleged sightings of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials at stadiums during the tournament.
In a statement to The Athletic, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson said that despite the reports made to FIFA, neither ICE nor CPB conducted enforcement, describing it as “another case of fear-mongering.”
The Club World Cup took place in the U.S. this summer amid significant national and international attention towards the Trump administration’s use of ICE in federal immigration raids. Before the tournament began, the CBP announced on its Facebook page that its agents would be “suited and booted ready to provide security for the first round of games” — a post that was taken down after FIFA officials expressed concerns to the CBP about the reaction it had provoked. A CBP spokesman previously told The Athletic that its professionals are involved in coordinating emergency preparedness for major sporting events, while also saying that U.S. Border Patrol was involved in planning and coordination.
Following complaints by supporters, FIFA sought to find out from ICE whether it was operative at the stadiums during the tournament, but FIFA says it was told by the White House Task Force for the World Cup that this was not the case.
A DHS spokesperson told The Athletic: “Neither ICE nor CBP conducted any enforcement during the FIFA Club World Cup. This is another case of fear-mongering. Federal Law enforcement was critical in securing the event and helped keep it safe for everyone involved, as they do with every major sporting event, including the Super Bowl.”
Among the other complaints submitted by supporters were concerns about extreme heat — a repeated controversy during the tournament. One game in Cincinnati, Ohio, was so hot that Borussia Dortmund’s substitutes watched the game indoors and a multitude of players complained about the heat, particularly in games scheduled for midday and during the afternoon, a pattern that seems likely to repeat itself at the World Cup next summer. The Athletic reported in June how long lines formed at some venues for a small number of water fountains, with expensive concession prices for bottles of water, while some fans tried to move seats or move indoors at some of the games during the heatwave. FIFA opened 25 investigations following reports about conditions deemed unsafe by fans due to the heat.
Other investigations included 20 or more complaints about accessibility issues and discrimination. The discrimination reports are particularly notable after FIFA decided to reduce messaging around its racism, discrimination and inclusion campaigns in stadiums and on social media during the tournament, for reasons it has never publicly explained, but campaigners have questioned whether it is linked to the Trump administration’s stance on cutting DEI initiatives.
FIFA also opened a dozen complaints relating to workers’ rights, as well as just under 10 safeguarding issues. There were five investigations into harassment, as well as four in the freedom of speech category and alleged excessive use of force. Three complaints were made about an alleged failure to provide for freedom of religion, which included concerns about a lack of prayer rooms made available in stadiums.
Despite Infantino’s claim of no incidents, supporters at Monterrey’s Club World Cup last-16 game against Borussia Dortmund were warned by FIFA that the game could be suspended after homophobic chants were heard repeatedly during the second half, while Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger also alleged he was racially abused by Pachuca defender Gustavo Cabral, a claim denied by the Argentine. An investigation into that incident was closed because of a lack of evidence, the Associated Press reported earlier this month.
In a statement, FIFA told The Athletic: “In line with previous FIFA tournaments, FIFA has implemented a human rights due diligence system around the recent FIFA Club World Cup, including a reporting mechanism, and established processes to address every report. FIFA’s receipt of and response to these human rights reports is a positive indicator of sound human rights due diligence. Every tournament of this magnitude brings alleged human rights issues, and it is FIFA’s responsibility as a serious governing body and competition organizer to address them in a professional and timely manner.”
Preparations for next summer’s World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico are stepping up, and the planning extends to the police departments across the host cities, 11 of which are in the United States.
The policing and security of the operation is almost entirely the responsibility of the host cities, according to a copy of Seattle and New York/New Jersey’s host city agreements with FIFA, which have been seen by The Athletic and would likely be largely reflective of agreements across the country. The host cities have undertaken to ensure police escorts are available for teams and referees, but also for FIFA president Infantino and “other VIP members of the FIFA delegation” or “VIP members identified by FIFA.” More broadly, the cities must handle a 39-day competition that will not only see a significant number of games in their territory, but also fan festivals and the heightened footfall and risk associated with major tournaments across their cities. It will also coincide with the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.
As such, some police departments have decided their officers must not take vacation days during the entirety of the tournament.
A public information officer for the Kansas City Police Department told The Athletic that officers will have a “window of time during the events that we are not allowed to take what we call ‘exception time’, which includes vacation or other elective days off.”
The Dallas TV station WFAA also reported in February that the then-police chief Michael Igo had informed his department that “no discretionary leave will be approved” leading up to and during the World Cup. Due to the stretched demand on resources, staff were told they would not have holiday approved between May 28, 2026, to July 26, 2026. The Dallas Police Department declined to comment.
The Santa Clara Police Department, which takes the lead for the World Cup games at Levi’s Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area, is taking a similar approach, but says employees have taken a voluntary decision to avoid time off.
Lieutenant Eric Lagergren told The Athletic: “To ensure the Santa Clara Police Department achieves its priority of public safety, we will be implementing an operational strategy that requires the full commitment of our personnel. Recognizing the significant lift involved, employees have voluntarily agreed to be at the discretion of the department for reorganization during this period. This reorganization will span four weeks and will culminate with the city of Santa Clara’s 250th July 4 celebration. In order to maintain the necessary staffing levels, vacations will not be permitted during this operational period.”
The New York Police Department, which will be involved in planning and coordinating around events and games at MetLife Stadium and fan festivals in New York City, said its plans are still being formed, while the Los Angeles Police Department said it does not discuss security measures for any event. “We will be sufficiently deployed and prepared,” a spokesperson said.
South Africa have not appeared at a men’s World Cup since the country hosted the tournament in 2010. However, they are currently top of Group C in the African qualification phase after eight games with two left to play, against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
South Africa have 17 points, three clear of second-placed Benin and six clear of Nigeria in third and Rwanda in fourth. The winners of each of the nine African groups automatically qualify for the World Cup. However, only the four best second-placed finishers (the teams with the most points who finish second across the nine groups) then get a second bite of the cherry by entering a play-off round, with only one additional nation securing a place at the tournament. In short, therefore, finishing top is important.
South Africa’s position, however, has suddenly become perilous because it has emerged that the team fielded an ineligible player by playing midfielder Teboho Mokoena during the 2-0 win over Lesotho in a group-stage qualifier in March. He was not permitted to play, having received two yellow cards previously in qualification, which equals an automatic one-match suspension.
South Africa Football Association (SAFA) chief executive Lydia Monyepao told reporters last week that SAFA had received correspondence from FIFA on the matter.
She said: “We are preparing our response to the FIFA disciplinary committee because that is what ultimately is required from us as an association.”
According to FIFA’s rule book, its disciplinary code says: “If a team fields a player who is not eligible to participate (due to suspension, registration issues, nationality, etc.), the match is automatically forfeited. The default result is a 3-0 loss, unless the actual result was even more disadvantageous to the offending team.”
SAFA and FIFA declined to comment when approached by The Athletic.
Their rivals have sought to capitalise, with the group potentially being thrown wide open should South Africa lose points.
“It is nothing less than is expected,” said Nigerian Football Federation director of communications Ademola Olajire, in quotes reported by ESPN.
“They have started a process that should have started maybe a little earlier and we now await the outcome.”
Benin, who would be best-placed to take advantage and move level on points with South Africa, have been critical. Their coach, Gernot Rohr, was reported by the media in Benin to have said: “FIFA should now very quickly give the decision.”
The New York City mayoral race will be decided on election day on November 4, and Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, who is leading the polls, last week sought to broaden his voter base by appealing to FIFA to reverse its decision to adopt dynamic pricing when selling tickets for the World Cup.
While the World Cup final will be held at MetLife Stadium in neighbouring New Jersey, FIFA’s hosting agreement is with both New York City and New Jersey, which is why it is also the domain of the New York City mayor. Earlier this month, The Athletic revealed Mamdani’s FIFA campaign, which subsequently launched with a video across social media.
Mamdani’s petition, which highlighted that non-hospitality tickets will be on sale for as much as $6,000 (£5,200), also asked FIFA to impose a cap on its resale platform to avoid fans being charged astronomical fees where there is expected to be huge demand for the tournament. This was underlined by FIFA announcing on Friday that over 4.5 million people had entered the pre-sale draw for the first phase of ticket sales. Mamdani has also asked FIFA to keep 15 per cent of tickets aside for local residents at a discounted rate, to ensure that the sport is accessible and captures new audiences.
Mamdani’s position, however, may not be shared by his mayoral rivals. The campaign for Andrew Cuomo did not respond to an email from The Athletic asking if he has a position on the matter.
A statement by a spokesperson for the current New York City mayor, Eric Adams, who is standing for re-election, did not directly address any of the issues raised by Mamdani, saying only that they want “every New Yorker to be able to get in on the fun.”
It read: “Mayor Adams is proud to have ensured that New York City will be welcoming the world as the host of the FIFA World Cup next year — including securing the generation-defining final. Thanks to our administration’s work, more than one million people will visit our city, shop in our stores, and dine in our restaurants — with the tournaments generating over $2billion in revenue and creating 14,000 new jobs across the region. This once-in-a-lifetime celebration will create unforgettable moments right here in our backyard, and we want every New Yorker to be able to get in on the fun.”
Sources close to Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey, who wished to remain anonymous because they were not authorised to speak publicly on the matter, said he has no current plans to challenge FIFA on dynamic pricing, but that the governor will speak to whichever candidate wins the election and they will work closely together as partners.
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