Although the World Cup is being promoted as the most inclusive ever—and the first to take human rights criteria into account during the bidding process—serious shortcomings remain. Many of the host cities’ human rights plans have still not been published or are insufficiently developed, while rising authoritarianism, threats to press freedom, restrictions on peaceful protests, and risks to public safety continue to grow.
In the GAME ON! special issue, you’ll find background information on the three host countries and various human rights issues. We hope you enjoy reading and engage in thoughtful reflection on the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
