n By Keith Hatch
that FIFA’s human rights commitments are implemented in practice.
Unite national health and safety adviser, Luke Collins, part of the delegation, felt the BWI-FIFA inspections were a success, with FIFA being receptive to trade union recommendations and a continued commitment to improve workers’ health and safety.
BWI delegates wrapped up the visit meeting workers
from the construction, mining, and metalworking sectors in Monterrey and the broader northeastern region bordering the United States.
Discussions focused on occupational safety and health issues as part of ongoing work with partners to ensure
g the um
Luke said, “This is a genuine tripartite effort. The businesses contracted through FIFA understand the magnitude of the event and that the eyes of the world will be upon them.
“The UK’s legislation was earmarked as the gold standard for health and safety and the American and Canadian contractors are committed to working to the highest standards.”
Luke added that Unite’s Rob Miguel and Paola Cammilli of BWI were instrumental in bringing this working arrangement together, saying, “this demonstrates that trade union involvement is paramount, having the worker’s voice truly heard, gives a real 360 degree view of how to build suitable and sufficient policies at major sporting events.”
The next decade sees a packed schedule of global football tournaments – far more spread out across host countries than previous events – making it vital that trade unions work together globally to ensure workers’ protection.
Unite has previously campaigned to protect migrant workers working in dangerous heat and poor living conditions while constructing World Cup stadiums and infrastructure, most recently for Qatar 2022.
Reports suggest
that over 6,500 migrant workers died during construction in a combination of workplace accidents and suicides.
BWI delegates visit finished stadium
13 unite buildingWORKER Spring 2026 ‘‘
[The agreement] provides a clear process not only to monitor but also to prevent and remedy abuses, ensuring that commitments to human rights translate into concrete improvements for workers
Ambet Yuson, BWI general secretary
Many in the football community have raised concerns over FIFA decisions regarding who hosts the World Cup over recent years. This is mainly around the impact of heat on players and fans.
Global professional footballers’ union, FIFPRO, said it “believes that FIFA’s guidelines do not do enough to protect the health and performance of players.”
FIFPRO is made up of over 70 national players unions, including the UK’s PFA (Professional Footballers Association) and represents over 70,000 players across the world, however FIFPRO were not invited to take part in a FIFA meeting to discuss player welfare in New York, and there is increasing friction between the two organisations.
There have been other concerns raised about the growing environmental footprint of tournaments that take place over multiple countries.
Last July, Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) released a report saying the, “2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup Finals are set to be the most polluting World Cup ever, with extreme heat risks to players and fans raising urgent safety concerns.” They added that “Six of the 2026 World Cup stadiums face extreme heat stress during the tournament and half of the stadiums require immediate environmental intervention to prevent harm to players and fans alike.”
If the impact on those attending matches at the stadiums causes health concerns, you can only imagine what conditions will be like for the army of construction workers building them, and the involvement of trade unions taking their side will be vital.
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