A moment for sport, an opportunity for our common humanity
Beyond the goals, victories and national pride, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will make history. For the first time, the tournament will be held on Canadian soil, and for the first time, three nations — Canada, Mexico and the United States — will come together to host the world’s largest and most-watched sporting event. With 104 matches and an expected five million fans attending in person, the tournament will unfold across major host cities including Toronto, Vancouver, Mexico City and New York, along with other venues throughout the three countries. The only previous FIFA World Cup hosted by more than one country was the 2002 tournament in Japan and South Korea.
This historic event across countries provides multiple opportunities for our world today. Athletes, delegations, and fans from countries formerly at war or in civil conflict will gather in shared celebration and competition.
In Toronto, which will host 8 matches, the tournament expects to engage 65,000 volunteers and attract 1.5 million spectators per match on television or in person. While such events are celebrated for their cultural and economic benefits, they also cast a harsh light on the vulnerabilities within our societies.
In Mexico City, games scheduled at Estadio Azteca, as well as in Guadalajara and Monterrey, large-scale urban and infrastructure projects may lead to forced displacement of residents, particularly in low-income neighborhoods near stadiums or along key transportation routes. For example, past redevelopment efforts around major events in Mexico have involved the removal of informal housing or street vendors to “modernize” public spaces, often without adequate compensation or relocation support.
What is particularly striking is that, at a regional level, the urgency of addressing the ongoing crisis of violence and human rights violations is often not prioritized above the economic interests tied to mega-events. In Guadalajara, reports have emerged of the discovery of bodies of disappeared persons in areas linked to stadium renovation works, underscoring the depth of the country’s disappearance crisis even as preparations move forward.
At the same time, an increase in tourism and economic activity do not necessarily alleviate underlying security issues. In fact, in a context marked by high levels of impunity – exceeding 98% in some areas – the influx of visitors and capital can inadvertently fuel the expansion of criminal economies. High-demand environments surrounding international sporting events create conditions for crimes such as human trafficking and extortion to grow. This dynamic can lead to further enforced disappearances, particularly affecting individuals and communities who resist criminal control or are caught in contested territories.
While the World Cup is often framed as an opportunity for economic growth and global visibility, these realities highlight the risks of deepening structural violence and inequality if human rights protections are not placed at the center of planning and implementation.
Our Dominican response to the World Cup as with any events, program, or policy, must be grounded in the JPIC priorities, specifically concerning human trafficking and economic justice.
Historically, mega-sporting events see a sharp increase in human trafficking and exploitation. The influx of visitors creates a demand that criminal networks exploit, preying on the most vulnerable. We must raise our voices to ensure that the celebration of athleticism does not become a cover for the abuse of God’s children.
Housing and human dignity are also at stake. In Toronto, the preparation for the soccer venues has already led to the early closure of a warming shelter at the Canadian National Exhibition grounds, which housed 250 people. This displacement of the most marginalized citizens for the sake of commercial interests represents a grave injustice. The “Gospel Call to Action” demands that we question what kind of society prioritizes temporary spectacles over permanent human needs. We must advocate for the dignity of the unhoused and insist that hosting the world does not mean excluding our own neighbors.
Barriers to participation also remain. The United States has extended the custom of exceptions for players, coaches, and staff from nations otherwise banned, such as Iran, Haiti, Senegal, and the Ivory Coast. Fans from these nations face severe restrictions on obtaining tourist visas, effectively blocking many from entering the U.S. to attend matches. The disparity highlights ongoing tensions between global celebration and national policy.
This unique historic moment also highlights new tensions among the host nations. The US government’s proposed tariffs on trade with Canada and Mexico affect the economic stability of working families and migrants on both sides of the border. As an example, this “trade traffic” is a matter of economic justice, impacting everyone from permanent residents struggling to find jobs to African migrants seeking a new life in Canada.
Environmental concerns, particularly regarding the Great Lakes, demand attention. The waste generated by massive events like the World Cup and the long-term health of the Great Lakes and other land uses require a unified commitment to our care of creation.
Canada has long prided itself on being a place of welcome. As Dominicans without Borders, our mission is to ensure that this welcome is genuine, just, and extends to all life—from the migrant seeking safety to the unhoused person displaced by a stadium, and to the Earth itself. This
statement of intent is the first step in a renewed preaching of justice across all of North America.
Despite the risks, it is possible that this 39-day event may serve as a reminder to the world of a pathway to building more lasting dignity and peace. While Canada, Mexico, and the United States are distinct sovereign nations, the Order of Preachers is called to a ministry that transcends political boundaries. The border, often viewed as a mechanism of division, can be reimagined through a theological lens as a point of encounter and solidarity. The Dominican charism of preaching truth and seeking justice demands that we view the Mexico-Canada-US relationship not merely as a line on a map, but as a shared spiritual geography where the Gospel calls us to unity.
Above all, the 2026 FIFA World Cup invites host nations to a new historic moment.
Contributors to this article:
Fr. Brendan Curran OP, Regional Co-Promoter for Justice and Peace, North America
Sr. Reg McKillip OP, Regional Co-Promoter for Justice and Peace, North America
Fr Raymond Latour, Socius and Vicar of Provincial, Province of St. Dominic, Canada
Fr Gonzalo Ituarte Verduzco, OP, Promoter for Justice and Peace, Province of Santiago, Mexico
Fr. Prakash Lohale, OP, Promoter for Justice and Peace, Province of St. Dominic, Canada
Alberto Solís Castro, Director, Fray Francisco de Victoria Human Rights Center, Mexico
Fr Dieudonne Bigirimana, Novice Master, Province of St Dominic, Canada
Fr. Jean Paul Tagheu, Province of St. Charles Lwanga, Cameroon
