The 2026 FIFA World Cup is already under scrutiny, and now a leading human rights voice is raising serious concerns about how the event could be used.
With the United States set to host matches as part of the global tournament, attention has not just been on football, but also on the broader political and social climate surrounding the event.
And according to Human Rights Watch, the gap between what the tournament promised and what is unfolding could define how it is remembered.
HRW director criticizes Donald Trump’s role in World Cup 2026
Speaking to The Guardian, Minky Worden, director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch, did not hold back.
“This was supposed to be the first ever World Cup with a human rights framework: key protections for workers, fans, players, and communities.
“Instead, the US administration’s brutal immigration crackdown, discriminatory policies and threats to press freedom mean the tournament risks being defined by exclusion and fear,” Worden said.
She added, “I think we are here to say that the problem of sportswashing is alive and well and this World Cup will be a bonanza for sportswashing.”
Worden’s criticism centers on what she sees as a contradiction between FIFA’s stated commitment to human rights and the current political environment in the United States.
The concern is that the global attention surrounding the World Cup could shift focus away from ongoing issues, instead presenting a more polished image during the tournament.
What ‘sportswashing’ means in the context of the 2026 FIFA World Cup
At the center of this debate is the concept that Worden directly referenced.
“Practice of using a beloved sporting event to attract fans and positive coverage that might also serve to cover up serious human rights abuses,” she stated.
The term has been increasingly used in recent years to describe how major sporting events can reshape global perception, often highlighting celebration and unity while deeper issues receive less attention.
In the case of the 2026 World Cup, critics argue that the scale of the tournament could amplify that effect, especially with multiple host nations and massive global coverage.
Supporters of the event, however, point to the unifying power of sport and the economic and cultural opportunities it brings.
That tension is exactly what makes this conversation so significant. As the tournament approaches, the focus will not only be on what happens on the pitch, but also on how the event is viewed beyond it.
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