World Cup 2026 Resources for New England

World Cup 2026: Resources for New England

The New England region expects 2-3 million visitors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted jointly by the US, Mexico and Canada. These tourists may visit for any of the seven matches at Gillette Stadium near Boston from June 13 to July 9, with projections of 450,000 ticketed fans attending some high-profile matchups like England vs. Ghana, Norway vs. France, and Haiti vs. Brazil.

While soccer is known globally as “the beautiful game” that often unites international communities, plans for this year’s games are already dampened by harsh new travel bans and exorbitant visa bonds imposed by the US.

For those who can make it into the US, it could become a very different experience than anticipated, due to increasingly authoritarian trends in immigration enforcement. MIRA is partnering with Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, New Hampshire Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees, The Vermont Asylum Assistance Project, and Fair Immigration Reform Movement to provide a travel advisory for visitors as well as resources for local New England residents and business owners who want to safely enjoy the games.

Send a letter to FIFA and Boston26 (the New England region’s welcoming group). Tell them to keep ICE out of the Cup!

We are asking:

• FIFA and the 2026 World Cup host committee to make good on their promise of a safe, welcoming, and inclusive tournament by issuing enforceable safety guarantees for all fans, journalists, vendors, and residents affected by the games
• Host city officials to reaffirm local protections, and to publicly commit to the safety of all visitors regardless of immigration status
• The Trump administration to ensure ICE does not target fans, journalists, vendors, or visitors attending the World Cup and to cease unconstitutional enforcement tactics, including racial profiling

Take action: ask FIFA and Boston26 welcoming committee members to honor their commitment to human rights.

FIFA: New England Travel Advisory

This year, there have been countless cases of visitors and tourists getting caught in the immigration hysteria dragnet. From an Irish father coming to visit his girlfriend to Canadians on roadtrips, and German tourists imprisoned for over a month, the risk is too big to deny. Travelers Should Exercise Extreme Caution: International visitors, immigrants, and people of color are at particular risk of harassment or unlawful detention. International IDs, such as international driver’s licenses, have been under heightened scrutiny. Until the US restores transparency, accountability, and civil protections, travel in the country poses serious safety concerns.

We’ve joined over 120 civil society groups who have issued a travel advisory for the U.S. ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

Watch Parties and Community Events: Know Your Rights

The World Cup brings together people from all over the world who love the game. This year, as local establishments prepare to host “watch parties’ for customers, many are uncertain how to do this safely with the possibility of immigration enforcement presence. While there is no guarantee that ICE will respect our rights, it is still important to know what they are.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS & EVENT INFORMATION

Click on the images below to access Know Your Rights Resources in multiple languages

Watch Parties and Community Events in the Boston Area

WATCH PARTIES & COMMUNITY EVENTS