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On 20th Anniversary, BWI joins Sport & Rights Alliance to advance labour rights in mega-sporting events
BWI becomes newest Core Partner of the Sport & Rights Alliance (Amsterdam, October 22, 2025) – On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) has joined the Sport & Rights Alliance as its newest partner, the SRA announced today. Representing approximately 12 million workers worldwide in construction, wood, and […]
New report: “No one wants to talk about it”
Voices of impacted people on participation of athletes convicted of sexual offenses (Amsterdam, October 6, 2025) – The Sport & Rights Alliance’s Athletes Network for Safer Sports has released a crucial new exploratory study, “No one wants to talk about it:” Voices of impacted people on the participation of athletes convicted of sexual offenses at […]
US: FIFA Cancels Anti-Bias Messaging for Club World Cup
Soccer Governing Body Action For US Tournament Bodes Ill For 2026 World Cup (New York) – The global soccer governing body FIFA’s reported decision to cancel previously planned additional anti-racism and anti-discrimination messaging at Club World Cup venues in the United States signals a human rights risk for FIFA’s upcoming 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico, the Dignity […]
World Cup: A Year Out, Growing Attacks on Rights
Largest-Ever Sporting Event Poses Major Risks for Fans, Workers & Athletes (Amsterdam, June 11, 2025) – The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) should take immediate and demonstrable steps to safeguard human rights for all people involved in the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, the Sport & Rights Alliance said today. With just one year […]
Saudi Arabia: Migrant Workers Electrocuted, Decapitated, and Falling to Death at Workplaces
Prevent, Investigate Deaths; Compensate Families; Mandate Life Insurance (Beirut) – Scores of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia die in gruesome yet avoidable workplace-related accidents, including falling from buildings, electrocution, and even decapitation, Human Rights Watch said today. Saudi authorities have failed to adequately protect workers from preventable deaths, investigate workplace safety incidents, and ensure timely and adequate […]
Saudi Arabia: Migrant Domestic Workers Face Severe Exploitation, Racism and Exclusion from Labour Protections
Locked in, left out: the hidden lives of Kenyan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia Kenyan women hired as domestic workers in Saudi Arabia endure gruelling, abusive and discriminatory working conditions, which often amount to forced labour and human trafficking, Amnesty International said in a new report. The report highlights how employers subjected the women to […]
FIFA: Afghan Women’s Refugee Team is Partial Solution but Not Official Recognition
Statements from Afghan Women Footballers and Sport & Rights Alliance (Amsterdam, 9 May 2025) – Responding to the FIFA Council’s decision to establish an Afghan Women’s Refugee Team (AWRT), Afghan football players and the Sport & Rights Alliance said: “We are proud to be part of history in helping create FIFA’s first-ever refugee football team,” […]
Letter to FIFA Re. Human Rights Responsibilities in 2026 World Cup
Human Rights Watch Letter to FIFA May 5, 2025 Gianni InfantinoPresidentFédération Internationale de Football AssociationFIFA-Strasse 20, P.O. Box 8044 Zurich, Switzerland Subject: FIFA’s Human Rights Responsibilities in 2026 World Cup Dear Mr. Infantino, We write to express grave concerns about the impact of current United States immigration policies on the 2026 FIFA World Cup and […]
2024 Annual Report: From Vision to Action
Reimagining the Future for Sport & Human Rights “The past year has shed a light on the critical impact that sport has on human rights and the true depth of the fight for equity, justice and transparency. Sport was put on check as global sport governing bodies were urged to demonstrate their commitment to human […]
FIFA Has No Child Safeguarding Policy for 2026 World Cup
US, Host Cities, FIFA Need to Commit to Protecting Youth In two months, the FIFA Club World Cup, an international football tournament for club teams, will kick off in the United States, serving as a testing ground for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup next year. But FIFA has inexcusably not put a clear and […]
FIFA: Recognize, Support Afghan Women’s Team in Exile
New Report Details Afghan Women Footballers’ Fight for Right to Play (Amsterdam, March 25, 2025) – The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) should act to stop the ongoing discrimination against Afghan women footballers living in exile and facilitate their return to international competition, the Sport & Rights Alliance said in a report released today. […]
Award of 2034 Men’s World Cup to Saudi Arabia risks lives and exposes FIFA’s empty human rights commitments
Joint Statement Today’s confirmation of Saudi Arabia as host of the 2034 FIFA men’s World Cup, despite the well-known and severe risks to residents, migrant workers and visiting fans alike, marks a moment of great danger. It should also mark a moment for change. As global and regional human rights organisations, trade unions, fans groups […]