2026 World Cup in USA faces 'huge' human rights risks: 'Deeply troubling time'

Millions of fans heading to the2026 World Cupface significant human rights risks, Amnesty International said, warning that the tournament is drifting far from the "safe, free and inclusive" event originally promised by world soccer's governing body FIFA.

With just over 10 weeks until the June 11 kickoff in Mexico, the human rights group said the United States, which will host three-quarters of the matches, was experiencing a "human rights emergency" driven by mass deportations, aggressive immigration enforcement and restrictions on protests.

"There are huge risks around this tournament," Steve Cockburn, Amnesty's head of economic and social justice, told Reuters.

"This does not feel like ... the safe, free, and equal World Cup and the inclusive World Cup that was promised eight years ago when it was awarded, but also may be quite different from how it felt even just 18 months ago.

"It's a deeply troubling time in the U.S., which will certainly extend to fans who want to take part in World Cup celebrations."

The U.S., Mexico and Canada will co-host the finals.

FIFA has been contacted for comment.

Spain – 17th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Brazil – 23rd appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> United States of America – 12th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Mexico – 18th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> England – 17th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Portugal – ninth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> France – 17th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Iran – seventh appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Switzerland – 13th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Croatia – seventh appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Australia – seventh appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Morocco – seventh appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Austria – eighth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ecuador – fifth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Senegal – fourth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> South Korea – 12th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Japan – eighth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Colombia – seventh appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Netherlands – 12th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Germany – 21st appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Belgium – 15th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Canada – third appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Saudi Arabia – seventh appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Uzbekistan – first appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jordan – first appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tunisia – seventh appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> South Africa – fourth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ivory Coast – fourth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Scotland – ninth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Algeria – fifth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> New Zealand – third appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Paraguay – ninth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Egypt – fourth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Cape Verde – first appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Qatar – second appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Norway – fourth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Panama – second appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Curacao – first appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ghana – fifth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Haiti – second appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the tournament

Spain– 17th appearance

Mass arrests and deportations

Amnesty said more than 500,000 people were deported from the U.S. last year, more than six times the capacity of New Jersey's MetLife Stadium which hosts the final.

The group said mass arrests and deportations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other agencies had torn communities apart and could spill into World Cup celebrations.

Amnesty called on FIFA to use its "enormous leverage" with the administration of U.S. PresidentDonald Trumpto secure public guarantees that immigration enforcement would not take place around stadiums, fan zones, watch parties or other World Cup-related events.

"We need clear assurances there will be no ICE presence around venues so people can attend without fear of arbitrary arrest or deportation," Cockburn said.

He called for guarantees that planned protests would be allowed and facilitated.

Amnesty said bans on fans from Senegal, Ivory Coast, Haiti and Iran entering the country should be lifted, and protective measures put in place for LGBTQ+ fans.

Risks in Mexico and Canada

In Mexico, where authorities have announced the deployment of around 100,000 security personnel, including 20,000 troops, the group warned that heavy militarisation could lead to abuses and the suppression of protests.

Advertisement

Mexico has a long history of human rights violations linked to military deployments, including enforced disappearances and torture, Cockburn said.

He noted that residents have already protested against gentrification, housing displacement and water shortages linked to World Cup preparations.

On the opening day of the tournament in Mexico City, women's groups plan to march to demand justice for relatives who have disappeared.

Cockburn said Amnesty wanted FIFA, the security forces and Mexican government to ensure that happened and allow a spotlight on the issue.

In Canada, Amnesty pointed to concerns that World Cup preparations could worsen conditions for homeless people.

The group fears efforts to "beautify" Vancouver and Toronto could lead to the homeless being forcibly moved from encampments, echoing what occurred during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

The group noted the recent closure of a winter warming centre used by homeless people in Toronto after the venue was booked for FIFA-related activities.

MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, New Jersey (hosting World Cup final)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Arrowhead Stadium – Kansas City

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Estadio BBVA – Monterrey, Mexico

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Estadio Akron –Guadalajara, Mexico

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> BMO Field – Toronto

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> SoFi Stadium – Inglewood, California

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> BC Place – Vancouver, Canada

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, Florida

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Lumen Field – Seattle

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> NRG Stadium – Houston

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Levi's Stadium – Santa Clara, California

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, Massachusetts

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16

MetLife Stadium– East Rutherford, New Jersey (hosting World Cup final)

Not saying 'don't go'

"This event will generate billions of dollars of economic impact and bring hundreds of thousands of jobs to our country. The President is focused on making this the greatest World Cup ever while ensuring it is the safest and most secure in history," a White House spokesperson said.

The Office of the Minister of Public Safety said Canada was committed to hosting a World Cup "that reflects our values of respect for human rights, inclusion, and the rule of law".

"We take these issues seriously and remain actively engaged with all levels of government, law enforcement, and community organizations to ensure the tournament is secure, fair, and welcoming for everyone," said a spokesperson.

There was no immediate response from authorities in Mexico.

Amnesty said fans should be aware of the risks and their rights before travelling.

"We're not saying don't go. We're not saying don't enjoy it," Cockburn said. "I really hope the fans do go and enjoy it. But it's been about knowing the reality and making those judgements."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:2026 World Cup in USA has 'huge' human rights risks, Amnesty says

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 31, 2026

2026 World Cup in USA faces 'huge' human rights risks: 'Deeply troubling time'

Millions of fans heading to the2026 World Cupface significant human rights risks, Amnesty International said, warning tha...

Read More

Jaguars to play home games in 2027 at Orlando's Camping World Stadium

The Jacksonville Jaguars are going to Disney World!

Jaguars Orlando Football

The Jaguars will play most of their 2027 home games in Orlando after NFL owners rubber-stamped a proposal Tuesday that has been years in the making and essentially a done deal for months.

Owners voted unanimously at the league's annual meetings in Arizona to allow the team to temporary relocate next year's home slate during the final stages of a $1.4 billion stadium renovation.

Jacksonville started searching for a home away from home when it unveiled plans for a "stadium of the future" in 2023.

The Jags considered playing at Daytona International Speedway, at Florida Field in Gainesville and at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

Camping World was always the front-runner. And it became a no-brainer when Orlando leaders cleared a $10 million sports-incentive package to help land the Jaguars earlier this year. The aging stadium also is undergoing a $400 million facelift — a project that will give the venue a modernized, NFL-friendly infrastructure.

"I look at it as an exciting opportunity," Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said. "You have a chance to breach a region of the state that you otherwise wouldn't have the luxury of doing."

The Jaguars are scheduled to play 10 home games in 2027, including a preseason exhibition. But not all of those will be played in Orlando; Jacksonville can play up to three home games in London that season.

Advertisement

So Orlando is likely to land seven or eight NFL games, including in-state matchups featuring Tampa Bay at Jacksonville and Miami at Jacksonville.

The Jaguars announced plans in February to play consecutive home games in London this fall, with ongoing construction reducing capacity at EverBank Stadium to 42,507 for the 2026 season.

The timing is far from ideal. The Jaguars are coming off a 13-4 season in which they won the AFC South in the first year of a new regime that features Gladstone and coach Liam Coen. Now, they essentially have to go two years without much of a home-field advantage.

"Hard for me to comment that far into the future," Coen said. "I can't go there. The only thing I can say is that I've been there. I coached there when I was at Kentucky; we coached at Camping World.

"I think it will be a cool thing because your average football fan is in Disney a lot. And so I do think it could be a way to connect with a new fan base. Are there going to be challenges and stressors and things that we have to work through? Absolutely. But I do think generally for our brand and for Jacksonville Jaguars football, I don't think it's going to kill us."

For Orlando, hosting the Jaguars — even as a one-year rental — provides the city a chance to showcase its capabilities. After all, Orlando is the largest U.S. media market without an NFL team and has the infrastructure (major airport, hotels, restaurants, nightlife) to handle big events.

AP NFL:https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 31, 2026

Jaguars to play home games in 2027 at Orlando's Camping World Stadium

The Jacksonville Jaguars are going to Disney World! Jaguars Orlando Football The Jaguars will play most of...

Read More

Bad weather is back in the US forecast as April begins

After a brief break, severe weather is returning to the forecast as April begins — mainly across the central U.S., with severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flooding downpours all possible.

"Heavy thunderstorms this week may bring hail, damaging winds, tornadoes and flooding rain from the Plains to the Great Lakes, disrupting travel and outdoor plans into Easter weekend," saidAccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski in an online forecast.

At the same time, freezing rain and snow will bring a wintry feel to the far northern tier of the U.S. over the next few days.

Warmer days and blossoming flowers are signs that spring — which officially began on March 20 — is upon us. See stunning photos of scenes from spring 2026.

The Pink Trumpet Tree (Tabebuia Impetiginosa) springs to life at the Hibiscus Fountain in Palm Beach, Fla., March 5, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Light rain gathers on a car window parked near Scituate Light which is reflected in the raindrops on the windshield in in Scituate, Mass., March 16, 2026

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Mist rises pond at Lakes Park, Fla., on March 24, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

See the beauty of spring in these stunning photos from across the US

Warmer days and blossoming flowers are signs thatspring— which officially began on March 20 — is upon us. See stunning photos of scenes from spring 2026.The Pink Trumpet Tree (Tabebuia Impetiginosa) springs to life at the Hibiscus Fountain in Palm Beach, Fla., March 5, 2026.

Stationary front to blame

On Tuesday, March 31, a front extended from the Northeast across the Great Lakes, Central Plains, Northern Rockies, and Northern California, which will remain nearly stationary with waves of low pressure running along the boundary through Thursday, April 2,NOAA's Weather Prediction Center (WPC) said in an online forecast.

"Tuesday's storms may bring large hail, damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes, with the greatest concentration from southern Michigan to northeast Illinois, the northern parts of Indiana and Ohio,"AccuWeathermeteorologist Brandon Buckingham said.

NOAA's Storm Prediction Centerhas issued a slight risk (level 2/5) of severe thunderstorms for parts of the Great Lakes/Ohio Valley through Wednesday morning, April 1.

"The hazards associated with these thunderstorms are frequent lightning, severe thunderstorm wind gusts, hail, and a few tornadoes," theWPC said.

Advertisement

Freezing rain and snow to the north

"Moreover, rain/freezing rain will develop from parts of the Upper Mississippi Valley/Upper Great Lakes into parts of the Northeast on Tuesday [March 31],"the WPC said. "In addition, light snow will develop over northern Maine and over parts of the Upper Mississippi Valley and Northern Plains."

By Wednesday, April 1, there will be patches of rain and freezing rain from the Central Plains to the Great Lakes, and a second area of rain and freezing rain over parts of the Northeast. Light snow will develop over parts of the Northern and Central Plains and the Upper Mississippi Valley on Wednesday, April 1.

Wet, stormy Wednesday for millions, forecast says

On Wednesday, April 1, the severe weather threat is forecast to shift south and consolidate over the Plains and parts of the Mississippi Valley,AccuWeather said. Severe weather is anticipated from central Texas through central and southeastern Kansas into southwestern and central Missouri.

Farther to the east, heavy thunderstorms will drench portions of the Ohio Valley and the Mid-Atlantic region Wednesday, April 1. "Along with downpours that can slow travel, some storms may produce winds strong enough to break tree branches and send trash cans and recycling bins flying," Sosnowski said.

Thursday's severe weather risk returns to Midwest

According toAccuWeather, the risk of severe weather will continue across parts of the Mississippi Valley and Plains on Thursday, April 2, and Friday, April 3, with Thursday's storms capable of producing strong wind gusts and hail from northern Arkansas to southern Michigan.

How much rain will fall? Will it help the drought?

A general 1-4 inches of rain is forecast from Texas and the north-central Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes and central Appalachians, with locally higher amounts of up to 6 inches possible,Sosnowski said. "While not all of the rain will fall at once, multiple rounds of disruptive rainfall are likely."

"In drought-stricken areas, repeated rainfall may bring some relief and reduce the risk of spring wildfires."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Severe weather is back in the US forecast as April 2026 begins

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 31, 2026

Bad weather is back in the US forecast as April begins

After a brief break, severe weather is returning to the forecast as April begins — mainly across the central U.S., with s...

Read More

LaGuardia controller staffing may have violated procedures on night of collision, document shows

By Doyinsola Oladipo

NEW YORK, March 31 (Reuters) - Air traffic controller staffing at LaGuardia airport on the night an Air Canada jet collided with a fire truck may have violated the facility's procedures by combining roles before midnight, according to a document seen by Reuters.

The crash at the ‌New York airport at about 11:37 p.m. ET on March 22, which killed both pilots, has revived concerns over U.S. air traffic control staffing shortages ‌and the workload of controllers across the country.

Staffing shortages, including at the supervisor level, are placing controllers into combined roles handling local air and ground traffic more often, according to several air traffic controllers ​across the country.

The National Transportation Safety Board said last week that as part of its crash investigation, it was seeking information on the duties being performed by each controller.

If the controller involved in the crash was performing both air and ground duties, that would be inconsistent with the LaGuardia tower's standard operating procedures.

An NTSB final report on a 1997 collision at LaGuardia between a private jet and a vehicle referenced new procedures being put in place afterward to ensure "local and ground positions shall not be combined prior to" midnight at ‌the New York airport.

As of 2023, the rule remained in ⁠place, according to a LaGuardia Tower Standard Operating Procedures document seen by Reuters.

"Positions at LaGuardia Tower are not to be consolidated to one position prior to midnight local time or 90 minutes after the start of the shift, whichever is later," said the 2023 ⁠document, which people familiar with the matter said remained current in 2026.

The Federal Aviation Administration, which runs U.S. air traffic control, said it "supports the NTSB on accident investigations and takes any necessary safety actions based on the evidence."

CONTROLLER DUTIES NOT CLEAR

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy told reporters last week that two controllers were working in a glass-enclosed section of the airport's control ​tower ​at the time of the accident.

There was a local controller managing the active runways and the ​immediate airspace and a controller-in-charge who was also providing pilots ‌with departure clearance, she said.

Advertisement

"It is not clear who was conducting the duties of the ground controller. We have conflicting information," she said, referring to the position that manages all aircraft and vehicle movements on the taxiways, generally excluding active runways.

Multiple current and retired controllers said they believed the local controller who was managing the active runways was also handling traffic on the ground, based on audio posted by LiveATC.net.

The NTSB did not return a request for comment.

Air crash investigations typically find accidents result from multiple contributing factors, rather than a single cause.

COMBINING POSITIONS

The controller-in-charge, who is responsible for safety of operations, signed in at 10:30 p.m. while the local controller signed on ‌at 10:45 p.m., the NTSB's Homendy said.

According to the LaGuardia standard operating procedures document, the local ​and ground positions should not have been combined until midnight at the earliest.

The document also states ​positions will only be consolidated as traffic warrants. If positions are consolidated, ​as traffic volume increases, the positions will be de-combined, the document stated.

On the night of the Air Canada crash, weather-related delays resulted ‌in 70 commercial flights taking off or landing at the airport ​between 10 p.m. and 11:37 p.m., compared with ​an average of 53 in the same time frame since 2022, according to Cirium data.

Several controllers interviewed by Reuters described the workload that night as busy and said other controllers would typically be brought in or stay on past their normal shift end time to manage the heavier-than-scheduled number of flights.

The ​local and ground positions should have stayed uncombined until at ‌least midnight, said a current New York-area controller on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak with media.

"And that is not ​even talking about the traffic, volume and complexity that night," he said.

(Reporting by Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; additional reporting by David Shepardson ​in Washington and Allison Lampert in Montreal; Editing by Jamie Freed and Nick Zieminski)

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 31, 2026

LaGuardia controller staffing may have violated procedures on night of collision, document shows

By Doyinsola Oladipo NEW YORK, March 31 (Reuters) - Air traffic controller staffing at LaGuardia airport on th...

Read More