{"id":2008,"date":"2026-05-31T17:29:37","date_gmt":"2026-05-31T17:29:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/?p=2008"},"modified":"2026-05-31T17:29:37","modified_gmt":"2026-05-31T17:29:37","slug":"world-cup-2026-will-test-the-united-states-preparedness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/uncategorized\/world-cup-2026-will-test-the-united-states-preparedness\/","title":{"rendered":"World Cup 2026 will test the United States&#8217; preparedness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>As millions prepare to arrive, experts raise concerns about immigration policies, civil rights protections, worker safeguards, and community impacts.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the countdown underway for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the United States is preparing to host the largest sporting event ever staged. Spread across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the tournament is expected to attract millions of visitors, generate billions in economic activity, and place unprecedented global attention on North America. Yet alongside the excitement, advocates, researchers, and civil rights organizations are asking whether the United States is prepared to deliver on FIFA&#8217;s promise of an inclusive and welcoming World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During a briefing hosted by American Community Media, experts from Human Rights Watch, the NAACP, and the Migration Policy Institute examined the opportunities and challenges surrounding the tournament. Their discussion highlighted concerns ranging from immigration enforcement and visa restrictions to worker protections, child safeguarding, freedom of expression, and the treatment of immigrant communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Human rights questions shadow a historic tournament<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to Minky Worden, Director of Global Initiatives at Human Rights Watch, the 2026 FIFA World Cup was envisioned as the first World Cup fully governed by a human rights framework developed after widespread criticism of previous tournaments in Russia and Qatar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Worden noted that the United States will host 78 of the tournament&#8217;s 104 matches, making it the primary stage for an event FIFA has described as the most inclusive World Cup in history. However, she argued that current immigration policies, visa restrictions, and enforcement practices could undermine that vision. Several countries participating in the tournament are affected by travel restrictions, potentially limiting the ability of fans, journalists, and family members to attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Human Rights Watch has called for what it describes as an &#8220;ICE truce&#8221; during the tournament, urging federal authorities to suspend immigration enforcement actions that could discourage immigrant communities from attending matches or participating in related events. The organization also raised concerns about journalists crossing international borders throughout the tournament and the risks they may face while covering protests and public demonstrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Children and immigrant families face additional concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Katherine La Puente, Children&#8217;s Rights Senior Coordinator at Human Rights Watch, emphasized that FIFA only recently adopted child safeguarding measures despite years of advocacy from human rights groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She warned that major sporting events can create heightened risks for children, including trafficking, exploitation, family separation, and inadequate reporting mechanisms for abuse. While acknowledging FIFA&#8217;s recent policy efforts, La Puente questioned whether there is sufficient time to fully implement and enforce protections before the tournament begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The discussion also highlighted the impact of immigration enforcement on families. Human Rights Watch cited cases involving parents detained during soccer-related events, leaving children separated from family members and facing lasting emotional consequences. Advocates argued that stronger protections are needed to ensure that children and immigrant families can safely participate in World Cup activities without fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Civil rights advocates warn of security and inclusion challenges<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jamal R. Watkins, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Advancement at the NAACP, described the World Cup as an extraordinary opportunity that is unfolding against a politically charged backdrop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Watkins said civil rights organizations are closely monitoring issues involving freedom of expression, workers&#8217; rights, immigration enforcement, public safety, and community inclusion. He stressed that host cities must ensure the tournament remains welcoming for players, fans, journalists, workers, and local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The NAACP has advocated for stronger racial equity standards, worker protections, and accessible remedies for individuals whose rights may be violated during the event. Watkins also expressed concern that heightened security measures could lead to excessive enforcement and increased surveillance, particularly affecting immigrant and minority communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, he questioned whether the economic benefits generated by the tournament will reach local communities or primarily benefit large corporations and major stakeholders. Advocates continue to push for stronger community benefit agreements and labor protections in host cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Immigration policies could shape the visitor experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ariel G. Ruiz Soto, Senior Policy Analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, focused on how immigration policies may influence the overall tournament experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ruiz Soto explained that travelers from dozens of countries currently face varying degrees of visa restrictions, while some visitors could encounter additional financial and administrative requirements before entering the United States. These policies, he argued, create unequal access to an event intended to unite fans from around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He also noted that the political environment surrounding immigration differs significantly from the conditions that existed when the United States, Canada, and Mexico jointly secured hosting rights. As a result, questions remain about how visitors, supporters, journalists, and even some participating national teams will navigate cross-border travel throughout the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite these concerns, Ruiz Soto emphasized that the World Cup still represents a unique opportunity to showcase international cooperation and cultural exchange if governments, organizers, and local communities can work together to address existing barriers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A global celebration and a national test<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As kickoff approaches, the 2026 FIFA World Cup promises to deliver unforgettable sporting moments and unprecedented international attention. Yet for many advocates and policy experts, the tournament will also serve as a measure of how effectively the United States can balance security, accessibility, civil liberties, and inclusion on a global stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The success of the event may ultimately be judged not only by what happens on the field, but by whether millions of visitors, workers, journalists, immigrant families, and local communities feel genuinely welcomed as the world arrives on America&#8217;s doorstep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mundial 2026 pondr\u00e1 a prueba la preparaci\u00f3n de Estados Unidos<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Mientras millones se preparan para viajar, expertos advierten desaf\u00edos en inmigraci\u00f3n, derechos civiles, protecci\u00f3n laboral y seguridad comunitaria.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A pocas semanas del inicio de la Copa Mundial de la FIFA 2026, Estados Unidos se prepara para recibir el evento deportivo m\u00e1s grande de la historia. Con partidos distribuidos entre Estados Unidos, M\u00e9xico y Canad\u00e1, el torneo atraer\u00e1 a millones de visitantes, movilizar\u00e1 miles de millones de d\u00f3lares en actividad econ\u00f3mica y colocar\u00e1 a Norteam\u00e9rica bajo la mirada del mundo. Sin embargo, junto con la expectativa por el espect\u00e1culo deportivo, crecen las interrogantes sobre si el pa\u00eds est\u00e1 realmente preparado para ofrecer una experiencia inclusiva, segura y accesible para todos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Durante una conferencia organizada por American Community Media, especialistas de Human Rights Watch, la NAACP y el Migration Policy Institute analizaron los principales desaf\u00edos que acompa\u00f1an la realizaci\u00f3n del torneo. Entre los temas abordados destacaron las pol\u00edticas migratorias, la protecci\u00f3n de los derechos humanos, la libertad de expresi\u00f3n, las condiciones laborales y el impacto que el Mundial podr\u00eda tener sobre comunidades inmigrantes y grupos vulnerables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Derechos humanos e inmigraci\u00f3n: las principales preocupaciones<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Minky Worden, directora de Iniciativas Globales de Human Rights Watch, record\u00f3 que el Mundial 2026 fue concebido como el primero bajo un marco integral de derechos humanos, una medida impulsada tras las fuertes cr\u00edticas que enfrentaron las ediciones realizadas en Rusia y Qatar. Sin embargo, advirti\u00f3 que el contexto actual plantea nuevos desaf\u00edos para cumplir esa promesa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">La especialista se\u00f1al\u00f3 que Estados Unidos albergar\u00e1 78 de los 104 partidos del torneo, convirti\u00e9ndose en el principal escenario de la competencia. Aun as\u00ed, consider\u00f3 que las actuales restricciones migratorias y de visado podr\u00edan impedir que aficionados, periodistas y familiares de algunos equipos clasificados puedan participar plenamente en la celebraci\u00f3n. Pa\u00edses afectados por prohibiciones o limitaciones de ingreso enfrentar\u00edan mayores obst\u00e1culos para asistir al evento.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ante este panorama, Human Rights Watch propuso una especie de \u201ctregua migratoria\u201d durante el Mundial, solicitando que se suspendan temporalmente ciertas operaciones de control migratorio para evitar que comunidades inmigrantes vivan el torneo bajo temor o incertidumbre. La organizaci\u00f3n tambi\u00e9n expres\u00f3 preocupaci\u00f3n por la situaci\u00f3n de periodistas internacionales que deber\u00e1n cruzar fronteras constantemente para cubrir los encuentros y que podr\u00edan enfrentar dificultades de ingreso o restricciones en el ejercicio de su labor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Protecci\u00f3n de ni\u00f1os, trabajadores y comunidades locales<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Otro de los temas centrales fue la protecci\u00f3n de la ni\u00f1ez durante el torneo. Katherine La Puente, coordinadora senior de Derechos de la Ni\u00f1ez de Human Rights Watch, explic\u00f3 que FIFA reci\u00e9n ha comenzado a implementar pol\u00edticas espec\u00edficas de protecci\u00f3n infantil, pese a que organizaciones defensoras de derechos humanos llevan a\u00f1os reclamando medidas m\u00e1s robustas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Seg\u00fan indic\u00f3, los megaeventos deportivos suelen incrementar riesgos relacionados con la trata de personas, la explotaci\u00f3n sexual, el trabajo infantil y la separaci\u00f3n familiar. Aunque reconoci\u00f3 los avances recientes, expres\u00f3 dudas sobre si existir\u00e1 tiempo suficiente para capacitar adecuadamente al personal involucrado y garantizar que los mecanismos de denuncia y protecci\u00f3n funcionen de manera efectiva desde el inicio de la competencia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">La Puente tambi\u00e9n alert\u00f3 sobre el impacto que las acciones de control migratorio pueden tener en familias inmigrantes. Casos documentados por Human Rights Watch muestran c\u00f3mo algunos padres han sido detenidos durante eventos futbol\u00edsticos, provocando separaciones familiares con consecuencias emocionales duraderas para los menores. En ese sentido, pidi\u00f3 que el Mundial contribuya a elevar los est\u00e1ndares de protecci\u00f3n de derechos y no a profundizar situaciones de vulnerabilidad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">El desaf\u00edo de equilibrar seguridad, inclusi\u00f3n y beneficios econ\u00f3micos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Desde la perspectiva de los derechos civiles, Jamal R. Watkins, vicepresidente senior de Estrategia y Desarrollo de la NAACP, sostuvo que el Mundial representa una oportunidad \u00fanica para demostrar el compromiso del pa\u00eds con la inclusi\u00f3n. Sin embargo, advirti\u00f3 que el contexto pol\u00edtico actual obliga a vigilar de cerca aspectos relacionados con la libertad de expresi\u00f3n, la seguridad p\u00fablica y el respeto a los derechos de trabajadores, aficionados y comunidades locales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Watkins se\u00f1al\u00f3 que las organizaciones civiles han impulsado est\u00e1ndares de equidad racial, protecci\u00f3n laboral y mecanismos de reparaci\u00f3n ante posibles vulneraciones de derechos durante el torneo. Tambi\u00e9n manifest\u00f3 preocupaci\u00f3n por la posibilidad de que las medidas de seguridad deriven en mayores niveles de vigilancia o aplicaci\u00f3n excesiva de controles que afecten de manera desproporcionada a determinados grupos poblacionales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A ello se suma el debate sobre los beneficios econ\u00f3micos del evento. Si bien se espera una importante inyecci\u00f3n de recursos para las ciudades anfitrionas, diversos especialistas cuestionan si esas ganancias llegar\u00e1n efectivamente a los trabajadores y residentes locales o si terminar\u00e1n concentr\u00e1ndose en grandes corporaciones y operadores vinculados al negocio deportivo y tur\u00edstico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Un Mundial que ser\u00e1 observado m\u00e1s all\u00e1 de las canchas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Por su parte, Ariel G. Ruiz Soto, analista senior del Migration Policy Institute, explic\u00f3 que las actuales pol\u00edticas migratorias podr\u00edan definir gran parte de la experiencia de quienes viajen al Mundial. Restricciones de visado, requisitos adicionales para ciertos visitantes y diferencias en los sistemas migratorios de Estados Unidos, M\u00e9xico y Canad\u00e1 podr\u00edan generar obst\u00e1culos para aficionados provenientes de distintas regiones del mundo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El especialista destac\u00f3 que el torneo fue concebido originalmente como un s\u00edmbolo de cooperaci\u00f3n regional entre los tres pa\u00edses anfitriones. Sin embargo, el contexto pol\u00edtico actual es muy distinto al que exist\u00eda cuando la candidatura conjunta obtuvo la sede, por lo que la gesti\u00f3n de la movilidad internacional ser\u00e1 uno de los factores clave para evaluar el \u00e9xito organizativo del evento.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A medida que se acerca el inicio de la Copa Mundial 2026, el f\u00fatbol promete convertirse en una gran celebraci\u00f3n global. No obstante, para expertos y organizaciones defensoras de derechos humanos, el verdadero desaf\u00edo ser\u00e1 comprobar si Estados Unidos puede garantizar que millones de visitantes, trabajadores, periodistas y comunidades locales se sientan realmente bienvenidos. M\u00e1s all\u00e1 de los resultados en la cancha, la manera en que el pa\u00eds gestione estos desaf\u00edos podr\u00eda convertirse en uno de los legados m\u00e1s importantes del torneo.<audio autoplay=\"\"><\/audio><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As millions prepare to arrive, experts raise concerns about immigration policies, civil rights protections, worker safeguards, and community impacts. With the countdown underway for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the United States is preparing to host the largest sporting event ever staged. Spread across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the tournament is expected to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":2009,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2008","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2008","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2008"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2008\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2010,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2008\/revisions\/2010"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2009"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2008"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2008"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2008"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}