FIFA World Cup 2026: Civil rights teams situation journey advisory for followers: Here’s what to know

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (KGO) — With the FIFA World Cup set to reach within the Bay Area in lower than 50 days, greater than 100 civil rights organizations have signed onto a travel advisory warning followers planning to attend matches within the United States about potential dangers.

The advisory, launched this week, cautions World Cup vacationers about what the teams describe as the danger of arrest, detention and deportation, invasive social media screening, the danger of merciless therapy or dying in an immigration facility, and suppression of speech.

The World Cup kicks off in mid-June, with matches scheduled throughout North America, together with in Santa Clara and 10 different U.S. cities.

“It’s going to be happening in our backyard,” mentioned Mariana with the Santa Clara County Rapid Response Network, one of many teams supporting the advisory.

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Organizers say the advisory just isn’t meant to discourage followers from attending video games, however fairly to organize them.

“We’re not discouraging people from coming to Santa Clara. We’re not discouraging people to travel to the US for the World Cup. We are just encouraging people to be aware of the risks and be aware of their rights,” Mariana mentioned.

Recommendations within the advisory embody turning off facial recognition and fingerprint passwords on telephones, alerting household and mates of journey dates and locations, and consulting “know your rights” assets.

Santa Clara City Councilmember Karen Hardy mentioned she doesn’t need the advisory to change into sensationalized.

“You’re raising people’s blood pressure with things that have happened in the past or elsewhere. This is California, this is Santa Clara County,” Hardy mentioned. She additionally mentioned she can be shocked to see immigration enforcement exercise at video games. “They’re trying to be quiet and they’re trying to be stealth. And that would not be either one of those.”

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The advisory’s authors say they’re merely making an attempt to tell guests.

“It’s not fear mongering. It’s just us being responsible and letting people know what’s happening in this country,” Mariana mentioned.

Santa Clara’s vice mayor mentioned town has hosted worldwide occasions earlier than and that the aim is for guests to not solely be protected, however to really feel welcome.

The first World Cup recreation in Santa Clara is scheduled for June 13.