Newly released KC human rights plan emphasizes World Cup trafficking prevention
Just weeks out from Kansas City’s first soccer match, officials coordinating World Cup activities in the Kansas City metro published their human rights action plan as required by FIFA.
That 13-page plan, dated May 11, highlights the city’s awareness efforts for preventing human trafficking, training for regional small businesses to prepare them for World Cup economic opportunities, event and transportation accessibility for people who have disabilities and food waste reduction and waste management, among other priorities.
FIFA now requires all host cities to adopt human rights policies to minimize the likelihood that the gravity and fanfare of the World Cup would result in harm to vulnerable people, such as through labor exploitation, discrimination or human trafficking.
Host cities initially had a March 2025 deadline to submit their plans. The deadline was then extended to later that summer after multiple cities did not complete theirs. It was then extended again to early 2026. Several cities then announced that they’d be publishing their plans in May 2026.
Until recently, Kansas City was among a handful of World Cup host cities that had not yet released their plans.
“The KC2026 Human Rights plan represents a regional commitment to hosting the FIFA World Cup 26 in a manner that reflects the hospitality and welcoming nature of our people,” according to the plan. “Grounded in the UN Guiding Principles on Human Rights, and shaped by government, business, civic and non-profit stakeholders, this plan prioritizes the actions identified by the FIFA Framework.”
It was not immediately clear whether KC2026’s plan was published on May 11, when it was dated, or on Thursday afternoon, when the group shared its plan with The Star.
KC’s cultural awareness, inclusion efforts in World Cup plan
In Kansas City’s plan, cultural awareness and inclusion efforts include the city posting way-finding signs in multiple languages and stationing volunteers who can offer directions; ensuring that the FIFA Fan Festival will include vegetarian, vegan, kosher and halal food options; and adopting a code of conduct for all related events.
KC2026 said it plans to put information detailing laws protecting people’s human rights on its website and on Kansas City’s end of the World Cup app.
The group plans to offer people spaces to express their freedoms of speech, and journalists will be allowed to attend media briefings held throughout the event, according to the plan.
The organization will work with the Kansas City Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity, and the city’s Office of Language Access to protect residents against “discrimination in employment and public accommodations by investigating discrimination claims and enforcing civil rights laws,” according to the plan.
The organization said it has trained businesses on brand restrictions, how many people are estimated to be in the area, information on visitors’ countries and cultures, and how to utilize cybersecurity and reduce risk of fraud, among others.
Trafficking prevention a priority
Much like plans published in other host cities, implementing awareness campaigns surrounding human trafficking prevention was a key point in Kansas City’s. The Kansas City International Airport has a human trafficking awareness campaign ongoing and has signage posted throughout the airport offering resources to those who may be trafficked through Kansas City.
Aside from ensuring law enforcement task forces are prepared, KC2026 said it planned to train people in the hospitality, restaurant and entertainment industries how to identify and address human trafficking cases during the event.
Those training sessions were scheduled to occur between four and eight weeks before the World Cup, according to the plan.
Vendors at the FIFA Fan Festival may participate in a three-day training that includes a session on human trafficking, the plan says.
KC2026 also identified the Fresh Start Bags campaign, which stocks bags with hygiene products for survivors of human trafficking. That campaign is collecting donations to support those efforts, according to the plan.
Workers’ safeguards
KC2026’s plan said it has information outlining workers’ rights (including non-discrimination, inclusive hiring, fair wages, health and safety protocols in the workplace, rights of migrant workers and more) written in its Responsible Sourcing and Procurement Police.
This includes information on reasonable working hours, labor trafficking, and child labor laws, according to KC2026.
These policies are intended to ensure KC2026 partners with businesses “that align with internationally recognized human rights and sustainability practices.”
KC2026’s procurement team, which will find and write contracts for businesses involved with the World Cup festivities, will be required to follow those guidelines.
“KC2026 will work with applicable local and state agencies to report any violations of labor law and as part of our overall incident management plan,” according to the plan.
Human rights organizations warn of travel to US
During this year’s World Cup, 48 teams are scheduled to play 104 matches across Canada, Mexico and the United States. Kansas City’s six matches, including a quarterfinal, will be played at Arrowhead Stadium.
Kansas City’s plan was the product of three years of preparations, research and consultations from 118 residents and human rights organizations and business support professionals, according to KC2026.
Human rights organizations from Kansas City were among more than 100 across the country that recently signed a travel advisory warning fans, players, journalists and visitors to be wary of the United States’ “deteriorating human rights situation.”
That advisory argued that FIFA, the federal government and host cities had not implemented clear guidelines or protections for immigrants, people who come from racial and ethnic minority groups and people who are LGBTQ+ at a time when the federal and state governments have increased immigration enforcement, arrests and deportations and implemented anti-LGBTQ+ policies.
