Sporting Events
Explore our latest research and analysis on the world’s biggest sporting events and the athletes, fans, and communities impacted by them.
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FIFA: New Report Exposes Human Rights Failures at 2026 Men’s World Cup
Coalition Calls for Upcoming FIFA Presidential Election to Center Human Rights (Amsterdam, October 13, 2026) – The 2026 Men’s World Cup exposed a failure of FIFA’s leadership to implement its own human rights policies, with the pursuit of record revenues prioritised over fairness and equality, the Sport & Rights Alliance and Football Supporters Europe said […]
FIFA: Governance Crisis Reveals Urgent Need for Rights Reform
Human Rights Groups Call for Systemic Transformation to Prevent History Repeating Itself (Amsterdam, August 6, 2026) – FIFA’s current crisis spotlights the need for governance reforms and transparent systems to protect human rights, the Sport & Rights Alliance said today. Though Gianni Infantino’s FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal has been rightly withdrawn, the growing calls […]
Football Belongs to the Fans, Not Private Investors
Supporters across Europe are outraged by FIFA’s proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup and other football competitions to Trump-aligned private investors. The plan put forward by Gianni Infantino is the latest step in FIFA’s continuous descent into an autocratic governance and personality cult, with its President pushing the limits of his mandate on […]
FIFA: A World Cup Without the World
Assessing Human Rights Impacts of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup (New York, July 16, 2026) – The joy and celebration on display at the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup should not distract from the unprecedented exclusion, discrimination and misuse of power the U.S. government is conducting away from the spotlight, the Sport & Rights […]
Pride Match in Seattle: What happens when the FIFA World Cup and Pride collide?
Iran-Egypt match set for Pride Weekend 2026 The FIFA World Cup reaches Seattle, WA, United States this weekend, coinciding with the city’s Pride celebration.Long before the draw, the local host organising committee designated whichever match would be played during the weekend as the ‘Pride Match’. What is the Pride Match? Seattle’s local organising committee for the […]
Brazil: Build legacy of safety and equity for 2027 Women’s World Cup
1-year countdown marks need for urgent action in women and children’s football (São Paulo, June 23, 2026) – With just one year until the kickoff of the 2027 Women’s World Cup, the Brazilian government, national football authorities and FIFA should prioritize the rights and wellbeing of women and children in football, the Sport & Rights […]
FIFA World Cup in the United States: FIFA issues press accreditation to sports journalist Christophe Gleizes, detained in Algeria
As the World Cup kicks off on June 11, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) announces that Christophe Gleizes, imprisoned in Algeria, has now been granted accreditation by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) to cover the tournament. This accreditation was granted in support of the French sports journalist, a contributor to the magazines So Foot […]
World Cup: FIFA Sponsors Should Back an ICE Truce
US Government Abusive Immigration Policies Pose Risk to Fans, Workers (New York) – The FIFA Men’s World Cup corporate partners and sponsors should join calls for an “ICE Truce,” a public commitment from United States federal officials to refrain from immigration enforcement operations at all World Cup events and venues, Human Rights Watch and the Sport […]
FIFA: Fear and Uncertainty in Final Countdown to 2026 World Cup
Voices of People Impacted by FIFA’s Top Tournament (New York, June 10, 2026) – As the world awaits the opening whistle of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, players, fan groups, and human rights groups are highlighting the risks posed by the U.S. government’s visa bans, travel restrictions and abusive immigration operations, the Sport & […]
Debunking the IOC FAQ
In connection to the IOC Policy on the Protection of the Female (Women’s) Category in Olympic Sport A scientific, legal, and child safeguarding analysis from Humans of Sport May 2026 Introduction On 26 March 2026, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board adopted a new Policy on the Protection of the Female (Women’s) Category in […]
FIFA: Keep the World in the World Cup
Football belongs to the world. FIFA is planning the biggest World Cup ever: 48 teams, matches in 16 cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and billions watching around the world. FIFA has promised a safe, welcoming and ‘inclusive’ tournament through its Human Rights Framework. But under U.S. President Donald Trump, harsh anti-human […]
Covering the 2026 World Cup? Prepare for more than football
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, taking place from June 11 to July 19, is expected to draw thousands of journalists to the United States, Mexico, and Canada to cover the world’s biggest sporting event of the year. Beyond the stadiums, fan zones, and celebrations, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urges media professionals to prepare for a […]