FIFA Should Press US on Immigration Policies
In their letter, the groups warned that FIFA risks becoming a public relations tool to whitewash the Trump administration's abuses. They urged the United States government to reverse immigration policies that put the rights of fans, players, journalists, and host communities at risk.
"Cutting the world out of the 2026 World Cup is not just bad for business, but it is also at odds with the human rights strategy and related commitments that have been in place since the US bid to host the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico in 2018," said Minky Worden, director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch.
Human Rights Watch wrote to FIFA on May 5, 2025, requesting information on the steps FIFA is taking to ensure "that the US government will permit players, fans and journalists from around the world to safely attend the 2026 World Cup," including any steps FIFA is taking to advocate for "changes in policies to align with international human rights, FIFA's Statutes, and FIFA's Human Rights Policy."
FIFA's response on June 3 did not meaningfully address any of the issues Human Rights Watch raised. It said that "if FIFA becomes aware of potentially adverse human rights impacts ... we will engage with the relevant authorities."
Source: Human Rights Watch
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The Province
an hour ago
- The Province
How Trump could complicate Canada's 2026 World Cup hosting plans
'No one wants to go to the World Cup to watch some soccer games and then end up in jail,' says professor of sports economy Published Jul 27, 2025 • Last updated 7 hours ago • 5 minute read U.S. President Donald Trump celebrates with members of Chelsea FC after they won the FIFA Club World Cup in July. U.S. immigration policy under Trump is raising concern about travel, safety and cross-border cooperation for the co-hosted 2026 FIFA World Cup. Photo by David Ramos / Getty Images With less than a year to go until the 2026 World Cup, political tensions and U.S. policy threaten to pose problems as Canada, the United States and Mexico prepare to co-host the tournament. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Next year's FIFA World Cup will be the biggest ever, with the three countries hosting a record 48 teams. Between June 11 and July 19, they will play 104 matches, most of them in the U.S. With millions of fans expected to cross borders to attend the games, U.S. President Donald Trump's harsh immigration policies — which include travel bans on some countries, immigration raids and mass deportations — are generating anxiety. 'This is all being driven by the United States. And we're entirely the guilty party here,' said Victor Matheson, a professor at College of Holy Cross in Massachusetts who specializes in sports economics. 'You could have significant immigration problems with fans and players going across borders.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The U.S. has travel bans in place for 12 countries and restrictions in place for seven, and is considering banning travellers from another 36 countries. 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But he also pointed out that the quarter, semifinals and final are all taking place in the U.S. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A spokesperson for Canadian Heritage said Canada could see a million international visitors during the tournament. 'Given the tri-national nature of the event, it is anticipated that international and domestic travellers will move back and forth between Canada and the United States. The focus will continue to be on the flow of movement, the safety of travellers and the security of the borders,' the spokesperson said. A spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency said the agency is working closely with federal government departments, host cities and FIFA 'in the safety and security planning for this international event.' 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Matheson offered the example of someone who makes jerseys for a country's team who would want to ship those jerseys across the border with the team. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Tariffs make that type of inventory management pretty challenging,' he said. Tim Elcombe is a professor at Wilfrid Laurier University whose areas of expertise include sports, politics and international affairs. He said 'there was a sense that having the event in Canada, the United States and Mexico would almost be a bit of a calming of the political waters,' as the cup returned to Western countries. Instead, he said, the 2026 tournament may be even more politically charged than the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Canada's Alphonso Davies scores on a header during a game against Croatia at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Photo by PATRICK T. 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Read More Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Whitecaps News BC Lions Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Sun
2 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
Trump and EU strike deal for 15 per cent tariffs on most goods, avoiding trade war
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If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Von der Leyen said the deal 'will bring stability, it will bring predictability, that's very important for our businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.' Many facets will require more work As with other recent tariff agreements that Trump announced with countries including Japan and the United Kingdom, some major details remain pending in this one. Trump said the EU had agreed to buy some $750 billion worth of U.S. energy and invest $600 billion more than it already is in America — as well as make a major military equipment purchase. He said tariffs 'for automobiles and everything else will be a straight across tariff of 15 per cent' and meant that U.S. exporters 'have the opening up of all of the European countries.' 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If Trump eventually followed through on his threat of tariffs against Europe, meanwhile, it could have made everything from French cheese and Italian leather goods to German electronics and Spanish pharmaceuticals more expensive in the United States. 'I think it's great that we made a deal today, instead of playing games and maybe not making a deal at all,' Trump said. 'I think it's the biggest deal ever made.' — Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim in Cincinnati and Samuel Petrequin in London contributed to this report. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Edmonton Journal
2 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
Trump and EU strike deal for 15 per cent tariffs on most goods, avoiding trade war
The United States and the European Union agreed on Sunday to a trade framework setting a 15 per cent tariff on most goods, staving off — at least for now — far higher imports on both sides that might have sent shockwaves through economies around the globe. Article content The sweeping announcement came after President Donald Trump and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen met briefly at Trump's Turnberry golf course in Scotland. Their private sit-down culminated months of bargaining, with the White House deadline Friday nearing for imposing punishing tariffs on the EU's 27-member countries. Article content Article content 'It was a very interesting negotiation. I think it's going to be great for both parties,' Trump said. The agreement, he said, was 'a good deal for everybody' and 'a giant deal with lots of countries.' Article content Article content As with other recent tariff agreements that Trump announced with countries including Japan and the United Kingdom, some major details remain pending in this one. Article content Trump said the EU had agreed to buy some $750 billion worth of U.S. energy and invest $600 billion more than it already is in America — as well as make a major military equipment purchase. He said tariffs 'for automobiles and everything else will be a straight across tariff of 15 per cent' and meant that U.S. exporters 'have the opening up of all of the European countries.' Article content Article content Von der Leyen said the 15 per cent tariffs were 'across the board, all inclusive' and that 'indeed, basically the European market is open.' Article content Article content At a later news conference away from Turnberry, she said that the $750 billion in additional U.S. energy purchases was actually over the next three years — and would help ease the dependence on natural gas from Russia among the bloc's countries. Article content 'When the European Union and the United States work together as partners, the benefits are tangible,' Von der Leyen said, noting that the agreement 'stabilized on a single, 15 per cent tariff rate for the vast majority of EU exports,' including cars, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. Article content '15 per cent is a clear ceiling,' she said. Article content But von der Leyen also clarified that such a rate wouldn't apply to everything, saying that both sides agreed on 'zero for zero tariffs on a number of strategic products,' like all aircraft and component parts, certain chemicals, certain generic drugs, semiconductor equipment, some agricultural products, natural resources and critical raw materials.
