Brazil's top human rights body has urged the United Nations and FIFA to combat racism during the 2026 World Cup, following numerous racist incidents targeting players. The Brazil National Human Rights Council denounced a pattern of structural racism, racial discrimination, and hate speech throughout the tournament. Incidents included derogatory comments from a Paraguayan senator and former Spanish leader about players, as well as online hate directed at Black footballers. The council called on the UN and FIFA to ensure that tournament hosts—the United States, Mexico, and Canada—adequately investigate and follow up on these incidents.
Council president Ivana Leal highlighted FIFA's data showing that out of over six million monitored social media posts, 89,000 contained abusive content, including thousands of racist messages. This figure is more than 13 times the number recorded during the 2022 World Cup. Leal emphasized that the World Cup should represent an encounter between peoples and cultures, and the data underscores that racism remains a global challenge.
The incidents have drawn international attention and calls for stronger measures to protect players and fans from racial abuse. The Brazil National Human Rights Council's statement underscores the need for global sports bodies to address and eradicate racism in football.
