Assessing the Human Rights Promises of FIFA 2026 in Toronto

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Partnership Development Grant. “Assessing the Human Rights Promises of FIFA 2026 in Toronto, Ontario.” (PI: Simon Darnell, University of Toronto) (2025 – 2028)

The primary objective of this research is to investigate the impact of hosting the FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026 (FIFA 2026) on human rights, with a specific focus on child rights in one of the host cities, Toronto. This study aims to develop an evidence base to evaluate how Toronto addresses and incorporates human rights considerations within the context of FIFA 2026, focusing particularly on child and youth rights and development, as well as gender-based violence and anti-trafficking measures, and considering how security practices and human rights discourses impact vulnerable populations during sports mega-events like the World Cup.

https://www.yorku.ca/research/project/2026-fifa-world-cupdev/thorncliffe-park-team/