As the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway across the United States, Mexico and Canada, Equidem is calling on FIFA, host governments and corporate partners to urgently uphold the rights of workers, migrants, players, referees, fans and local communities connected to the tournament.

Drawing on more than five years of research into labour rights abuses linked to FIFA tournaments, Equidem warns that labour exploitation, discrimination, immigration enforcement, heat-related risks and a lack of transparency continue to pose serious human-rights concerns across the World Cup ecosystem. Equidem is urging FIFA to strengthen protections, increase transparency and ensure effective remedies for those affected by abuses linked to the tournament.