Human Rights Watch on Thursday called on FIFA to observe a moment of silence before the 2026 World Cup final on Sunday, in mourning for two people killed this month by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

A Colombian man was killed on Monday in the US state of Maine, and a Mexican man last week in Houston, Texas, during traffic stops carried out as part of President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration.

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Minky Worden, director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch, told AFP: 'It would be appropriate for FIFA to observe a moment of silence before the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, located in the New York suburbs.' She added: 'An ICE detention center is just 14.5 kilometers from the stadium, and this is an opportunity for FIFA to fulfill its promise to respect human rights in this edition of the World Cup.'

The 2026 World Cup is the first edition to incorporate human rights standards in the bidding process, following widespread criticism of the Russia and Qatar editions.

According to Worden, this tournament, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be remembered as the 'MAGA World Cup,' a reference to Trump's slogan 'Make America Great Again.' She added: 'When the world remembers this tournament, it will remember the victims killed by US ICE and the deportations carried out during the tournament.'

Her remarks came at the end of a press conference organized by several human rights groups in New York ahead of the final match between Argentina and Spain on Sunday.

Daniel Noroña, director of campaigns for the Americas at Amnesty International, believes that FIFA failed to keep its promise of organizing a World Cup that respects human rights. He said: 'FIFA has not used its influence during this tournament,' noting that Trump's deportation policies have forced many immigrants to 'live in the shadows.'