The countries, players and fans enjoying the World Cup but facing religious persecution

AS a record 48 countries battle for the World Cup, religious freedom remains an elusive goal in many of the nations competing warned a Catholic charity. 

The 2026 FIFA World Cup – the largest in the competition’s history – kicked off yesterday (11th June) across the United States, Mexico and Canada and will run until 19th July. 

But behind the headlines of which teams qualify in the knockout stages, millions of people living in 14 of the participating countries continue to face restrictions on their freedom of religion or belief, according to Marta Petrosillo, editor-in-chief of Aid to the Church in Need’s (ACN) Religious Freedom in the World report. 

Everyone is entitled to religious liberty according to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – but many football players and fans are denied it. 

Throughout the tournament, ACN will be promoting its petition calling on governments and the UN to do more to defend the right to believe, and to ensure that those responsible for persecution are held to account. 

Ms Petrosillo said the tournament is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on some of the countries where religious freedom is under threat. 

She added: “The World Cup brings together people from every culture, religion and nation. It is also an opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges that millions of people around the world still face in exercising their fundamental right to freedom of religion or belief. 

“We encourage governments everywhere to uphold and protect this fundamental human right, ensuring that every person can freely practice, change or share their faith without fear of discrimination or persecution.” 

According to ACN’s Religious Freedom in the World report, three of the participating countries are classified as places of religious persecution – Iran, Saudi Arabia and DR Congo – and a further 11 as countries where significant discrimination occurs. 

Iran and Saudi Arabia’s legal systems severely restrict religious freedom, particularly for converts from Islam, and members of unrecognised religious communities. People who challenge these restrictions risk arrest, imprisonment and even the death penalty. 

The Democratic Republic of Congo suffers from chronic instability and violence, which has been made worse by growing jihadist activity by the Allied Democratic Forces in the east of the country. 

Countries in the discrimination category include Haiti, Uzbekistan, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Jordan, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey. 

Mexico, one of the three host nations, has a long tradition of institutionalised anti-clericalism, but a bigger concern currently comes from organised crime and the drug trade targeting priests, religious leaders and pastoral workers, as they try to exert control over local communities. 

In Iraq, religious minorities have endured terrible situations of persecution for decades, but the national football team is diverse – containing Kurds Sunnis and Shi‘a Muslims. Four of the players are Christians, making up roughly 15 percent of the squad. 

Ms Petrosillo said: “While fans may support different national teams, the World Cup also reminds us of the values that unite us – respect for human dignity and freedom of religion or belief.”