MIAMI — Protesters are pushing for promises to be kept as pressure builds ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“We want the World Cup to serve the people here, and not a cash cow for the few,” said Jonathan Alingu with Central Florida Jobs with Justice.

With matches less than 100 days away, dozens of labor and community groups gathered in downtown Miami on Tuesday, demanding answers from FIFA and the local host committee.

“For the past two years we have been trying to have a seat with the stakeholders so that the Miami host committee prioritizes human rights,” said Kris Beckford with the South Florida AFL-CIO.

Nearly 30 organizations, from labor unions to community advocates, rallied outside the Miami-Dade Government Center.

Their concerns centered on worker rights, fair pay and public safety.

Katherine Passley with Beyond the Bars says, “Mega events like this don’t just bring fans, they bring exploitation, they bring over policing, they bring systems that profit off of our most vulnerable.”

Advocates say they’ve met with organizers multiple times but claim little has changed.

“Right now, FIFA has said that host cities are expected to implement human rights protections, but expectations are not enforcement, and promises are not protection,” added Passley.

Immigration advocates added their voices, pointing to broader human rights concerns.

“When the games are being played, when there are events like the fan fest, there should be a suspension of the 287G agreements, at least while these events are happening, so that local police are not mandated to assist in this immigration enforcement,” said Thomas Kennedy with the Florida Immigrant Coalition.

With global attention soon heading to South Florida, organizers say they want transparency and real change.

“The door is open from us to the county and host committee to engage,” said Alingu.

Local 10 has reached out to FIFA for comment but has not yet received a response.

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