The FIFA World Cup

FIFA is set to hold its 2022 Men’s World Cup in Qatar — bringing labor conditions and migrant workers, LGBTI rights and gender equality, freedom of expression, and other human rights issues to the top of the agenda. Just a year later, the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia & New Zealand will also open opportunities to advance human rights for migrants, LGBTI-identifying persons, and others.

Finally, preparations for United 2026 are already underway, set to be held jointly in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Though more is sure to come, advocacy efforts and negotiations for stronger workers’ rights and fair agreements with host cities, airports, and stadiums have already begun.

See the latest research and analysis on FIFA World Cup events below to learn more.

KAZAKHSTAN: candidate 2026 World Cup Football

Kazakhstan is candidate for hosting the World Cup Football in 2026. The human rights record of the country is poor. Beautiful words cover up bad practices: Kazakhstan “will not rest until torture is completely eliminated”, the government announced. But torture is still taking place. The freedom of expression, association and assembly are restricted. Peaceful protesters […]

World Cup Soccer Balls: Exploitation Still the Norm

As the frenzy grows over the upcoming FIFA World Cup in South Africa, there is a part of the World Cup that won’t be broadcast on TV. The Play Fair Alliance today asked FIFA to respond to the report “Missed the Goal for Workers: the Reality of Soccer Ball Stitchers”, released by US-based NGO International […]

Sport & Rights Alliance Backs Human Rights Advisory Board Call for FIFA to be Accountable on Human Rights

(Nyon, Switzerland, April 14, 2020) — FIFA should back its  2017 Human Rights Policy by ensuring accountability, transparency and remedy at the highest levels of football, a landmark report by FIFA’s independent human rights advisory board has recommended. This recommendation has the full endorsement of the Sport & Rights Alliance – a coalition of non-governmental organizations and […]