More than 120 human rights organisations have issued a formal travel advisory urging football fans, players, journalists, and other visitors attending this summer's FIFA World Cup to "exercise caution" when travelling to the United States.

The coalition — which includes the American Civil Liberties Union — cited what it describes as "the Trump administration's violent and abusive immigration crackdown" as the primary motivation behind the warning. The advisory states that "the Trump administration's rising authoritarianism and increasing violence pose serious risks to all," adding that minority groups in particular are "vulnerable to serious harm."

Travel bans affecting World Cup nations

Among the concerns raised is the existence of travel bans on nationals from four countries that have qualified for the tournament: Iran, Haiti, Senegal, and Ivory Coast. For African football supporters and players from Senegal and Ivory Coast, this creates direct and serious barriers to attending matches.

The groups also warn of risks including denial of entry, arbitrary arrest, social media screening, racial profiling, heightened surveillance, and travel restrictions affecting citizens of dozens of countries.

Travellers are advised to remove sensitive information from their phones and keep family and friends regularly updated on their movements and plans.

Fifa's role under scrutiny

The coalition has directed sharp criticism at FIFA president Gianni Infantino for what the signatories describe as his close alignment with US President Donald Trump. In December, Infantino awarded Trump with FIFA's inaugural Peace Prize.

The organisations have called on FIFA to pressure US authorities "to respect the fundamental human rights of every person visiting and attending the games," accusing the governing body of failing to provide "concrete guarantees" of safety for visitors.

FIFA, for its part, says it is "committed to respecting all internationally recognised human rights and shall strive to promote the protection of these rights," pointing to several documents and advisory bodies it has established to address human rights concerns connected to the tournament.

Security and official responses

US officials have not directly addressed the travel advisory. However, the White House's World Cup Task Force has previously stated the tournament will be "the largest, safest, and most welcoming sporting event in history," promising fans "a smooth, secure, and truly unforgettable tournament."

US officials have confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will form part of World Cup security. ICE has faced significant criticism for its conduct, including following the fatal shooting of two US citizens who were protesting against the immigration crackdown. Fan group Football Supporters Europe told BBC Sport earlier this year that it was "extremely concerned by the ongoing militarisation of police forces in the US."

Last month, Amnesty International warned that the World Cup risked becoming "a stage for repression and a platform for authoritarian practices."

The United States is co-hosting the 2026 tournament alongside Canada and Mexico, with 78 of the 104 scheduled matches taking place on US soil.