A growing resistance
In Los Angeles and a dozen other cities slated to host matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a coalition of community groups is sounding the alarm about the social costs of a tournament that promises global spectacle but delivers local upheaval. The concerns center on displacement, rising housing costs and the expansion of police powers that have accompanied previous mega‑events.
At the heart of the Los Angeles effort is the People’s Football Club, a nonprofit that stages matches to rally working‑class residents around issues of solidarity and anti‑racism. Victor Quintero, Eric Sheehan, Laura Macintyre, Tyeshia Redden, Benton Oliver and Em have been among the organizers who repeatedly stress that the tournament’s exorbitant ticket prices leave many Angelenos unable to watch the games in their own backyard.
Ticket costs and corporate entanglements
Eight of the World Cup’s 104 international matches will be played at SoFi Stadium, a venue built on the site of the former Hollywood Park racetrack. The stadium’s construction coincided with a surge in housing prices and the eviction of Black and Latinx families from nearby neighborhoods. Critics point to partnerships between FIFA, tech firms and the Department of Homeland Security as a conduit for surveillance and profit that bypasses community oversight.
Amnesty International has released a report warning that the World Cup could trigger a wave of repressive practices, from increased patrols in vulnerable districts to the criminalization of protest. The organization also notes that FIFA’s decision to award President Donald Trump its inaugural “FIFA Peace Prize” was met with sharp criticism from human‑rights advocates who view the gesture as a cynical attempt to curry favor.
Broader patterns of displacement
The problem is not confined to Los Angeles. In São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre, residents have reported rent hikes and the forced removal of long‑standing communities as real‑estate developers cash in on the influx of visitors and investors. Similar trends have emerged in Atlanta, where the 2026 matches are expected to accelerate gentrification in historically Black neighborhoods.
Vancouver’s experience with the 2026 FIFA Congress illustrates how quickly housing insecurity can deepen. Protesters there shut down single‑room occupancy hotels, leaving nearly 300 people without shelter, a stark reminder that the event’s logistical demands can eclipse basic human needs.
In Mexico City, rising rents and the arrival of digital nomads have been linked to the World Cup’s economic ripple effects, while in Seattle and Inglewood local activists warn that the influx of tourists could exacerbate homelessness and strain public services. Across the United States, the pattern repeats: mega‑events are used as justification for large‑scale development projects that often bypass community input.
Grassroots voices
The coalition known as NOlympics LA, led by organizers such as Laura Macintyre and Benton Oliver, has called for a moratorium on the use of public land for future mega‑events until robust affordable‑housing protections are in place. Their demands echo those of the People’s Football Club, which continues to schedule community matches as a form of direct action against what they describe as a “spectacle of exclusion.”
Human Rights Research, Pivot Legal Society, Chinatown International District Coalition and the Palestinian Youth Movement have all issued statements supporting the Los Angeles campaign, emphasizing that the fight against displacement is inseparable from struggles against racism, xenophobia and corporate overreach. Their collective voice underscores a global network of solidarity that transcends borders.
As the world watches the preparations for the 2026 World Cup, the activists on the ground remain steadfast. Their message is clear: mega‑sporting events must not be allowed to eclipse the rights of marginalized communities. Until transparent, community‑led planning processes are established, the pushback will continue to echo from Los Angeles to São Paulo, from Vancouver to Mexico City.