Following the controversial World Cup finals in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022, many fans looked forward with relief to the upcoming 2026 World Cup in North America. But with Donald Trump’s growing authoritarianism, attacks on migrants, and FIFA’s shameless behavior, that anticipation has faded.
Fans, sports journalists, queer communities, migrant workers, and Indigenous communities are at risk of having their rights disregarded—ranging from entry restrictions and the scrutiny of social media profiles to the curtailment of freedom of expression and the exploitation of service workers.
Yet there are also movements and actors advocating for a more inclusive, human rights-respecting form of soccer, both in the three host countries and here in Austria. How can global soccer be freed from its hostage situation? What awaits Austrian fans in the three host cities? What is the situation in Mexico and Canada?
We will discuss these and other questions in a panel discussion with:
Andrea Florence, Executive Director of the Sport and Rights Alliance, human rights lawyer in São Paulo, Brazil
Ingo Mach, Leiter Fußball und soziale Verantwortung, ÖFB
Hanna Stepanik, Project Manager of “Game on! Sport and Human Rights,” fairplay Initiative
Former professional athlete, to be confirmed
Moderator: Karoline Krause-Sandner, Head of the Sports Department, Kurier
Club 2 × 11 is an event organized by Vienna Libraries, the fairplay Initiative, Wir Frauen im Sport, and ballesterer. This edition takes place in cooperation with the “Game On! Sport for Human Rights” initiative, supported by the Austrian Development Cooperation.
