THE OFFICIAL HOME OF THE FIFA WORLD CUP 26 HOUSTON™
HUMAN RIGHTS
Version 1 of our comprehensive Human Rights Action Plan, aligned with FIFA requirements, is available for review. In accordance with FIFA guidance, the final version is scheduled for publication in May. We are actively advancing work on all mandated human rights issues. For those who do not review the plan in its entirety, a brief snapshot of planned mitigations is provided below, including efforts related to human trafficking, one of the many issues we are actively addressing.
TRAININGS - HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND ACCESSIBILITY
World Cup–specific training on human trafficking (produced in partnership with A21) and accessibility is available for delivery across key sectors and groups, including transportation, volunteers, and the hospitality industry.
The human trafficking training and accessibility training are both available in English. Each training is approximately 35 minutes long and can be embedded in Learning Management Systems using a SCORM 1.2 file. Trainings are also available in MP4 format, and both contain identical content.
The Host Committee has already distributed these trainings to partner agencies and encourages broad community use. No permission is required. You will be able to access the
trainings after completing this short form to allow download tracking. These trainings were recorded by Inspire.
WORKER SAFEGUARDS AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING
In addition to human trafficking training, the Host Committee has automated its Responsible Contracting Policy to strengthen worker protections and proactively addresses the risks of labor exploitation and human trafficking within our supply chain. Potential suppliers that register for the Buy Houston-By Houston program are required to sign a Code of Conduct. Suppliers that choose to submit a response to a Request for Proposal (RFP) will also be required to complete additional human rights documentation.
To further support this policy, the Host Committee is planning to operationalize a dedicated Worker Support Hub at the FIFA Fan Festival. This space will provide workers with a confidential place to raise concerns and file grievances.
In addition, the Host Committee has partnered with a leading international organization to develop a broad social media campaign. Leveraging our soccer-focused platform, the campaign will raise awareness around issues such as gender-based violence and buyer awareness and will run from May to July 2026.
ACCESSIBILITY
In addition to the Accessibility Training, the FIFA Fan Festival is being planned as an accessible event, with more than 20 accessibility integrations identified and summarized in the plan.
Stakeholders also requested an assessment of accessibility options for ride share services. The completed assessment demonstrated that currently offer wheelchair-accessible ride options, accommodate mobility devices, and maintain clear policies permitting service animals. Uber is introducing additional features aimed at reducing discrimination against riders with visual impairments, while Lyft supports screen readers and offers assisted ride services.
PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION TOOLKIT
We have developed a Peaceful Demonstration Toolkit to help demonstrators understand the scope of constitutionally protected free speech, with particular emphasis on time, place, and manner restrictions. The goal of these toolkits is to support lawful expression and encourage peaceful demonstrations.
This toolkit has been reviewed by government officials and law enforcement representatives. We hope that it serves as a resource for individuals planning to participate in a demonstration. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, information may change over time; users are encouraged to verify details with the appropriate authorities. This toolkit is provided for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as legal advice.
FAIR HOUSING TOOLKIT
This Fair Housing Toolkit was reviewed by multiple government officials and is intended to serve as an informational resource. While care has been taken to ensure accuracy, the information contained herein may change over time.
Users are encouraged to verify current requirements by contacting the appropriate authorities.
This material is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as legal advice.
Please note: Fair Housing laws do not govern short-term rentals.
For more information on the history of stakeholder engagement and the development of human rights action plan, continue reading below.
For press inquiries, please contact Cgomez@fwc26houston.com
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Between 2019 and 2022, the Houston 2026 World Cup Bid Human Rights Sub-Committee engaged over 100 stakeholders to address key human rights issues identified by FIFA. The resulting Human Rights Plan was submitted as part of the bid, alongside other technical components.
Two years later, FIFA World Cup 26™ released its Human Rights Framework in July 2024. Unlike the original bid-phase requirements, the new Framework instructed Host Committees to examine human rights violations in three specific areas:
1. Inclusion and Safeguarding – Inclusion and non-discrimination, safeguarding, human trafficking, gender equity, gender-based violence, freedom of assembly, expression and press, accessibility, and security and policing
2. Workers’ Rights – Fair wages, child labor, non-discrimination, inclusive hiring protocols, grievances and access to remedy, forced labor and labor trafficking, poor working conditions, occupational, health and safety, freedom of association and collective bargaining, rest and reasonable limitation of working hours, preventing and addressing harassment and abuse at work, responsible contracting and transparent dealings.
3.Access to Remedy – ensuring that anyone that may have experienced a human rights violation linked to hosting in Houston has access to remedy in addition to workers.
BID TO HOST CITY DESIGNATION
To develop the plan during the bid phase, Stakeholders were asked to complete a pre-meeting survey to capture their individual expertise on risks associated with hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026™. They ranked risks by priority level and linked them to activities associated with hosting, such as preparing public venues.
During a subsequent meeting organized by the FIFA World Cup 26 Houston™ Human Rights Sub-Committee involving stakeholders and facilitators, identified risks were further prioritized, with the most critical advancing to the next phase to identify mitigation opportunities.
Stakeholders were then tasked with developing opportunities to address the prioritized risks in another pre-meeting survey and subsequent meeting, which led to the creation of a final list of opportunities and activities that served as the basis of the 200-page Human Rights Plan submitted during the bid process.
In addition to this process, FIFA World Cup 26 Houston™ consulted with numerous other agencies with a national and international reach to further inform the plan.
ALIGNING THE 2021 BID PLAN SUBMISSION TO THE NEW FIFA WORLD CUP 26™ FRAMEWORK AFTER HOST CITY DESIGNATION
The now Houston Host Committee (HCC) crossed the bid plan submission from 2021 with the new Framework to align the input from the bid plan with the new expectations FIFA World Cup 26™ set. The results of the cross are as follows:
1. There were 37 opportunities to mitigate potential harms for what now falls under Safeguarding and Inclusion.
2. There were 31 opportunities to mitigate potential harms for what now falls under Workers’ Rights.
3. There were 5 ideas on Access to Remedy.
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTION PLAN FEEDBACK AND NEXT STEPS
Once the FIFA World Cup 26™ Human Rights Framework was released, we did the cross, and we created a new draft Human Rights Action Plan that was released for public feedback on April 8, 2025. The feedback period closed on April 30, 2025, during which 8 points of input were submitted by 2 stakeholders. The final Human Rights Action Plan was published February 16, 2026.
If you have questions, concerns, or comments, please email our Chief Legacy Officer: Minal Davis at mdavis@fwc26houston.com.