GENERATION 2026: Advancing Safer Youth-Inclusive Sports
The upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 in Canada, Mexico and the United States is the first major sporting event (MSE) to require human rights commitments from host countries during the bid process. This is a historic milestone that will change the way MSEs are planned and delivered, creating a new legacy.
The Centre for Sport and Human Rights has supported human rights efforts related to this men’s World Cup since 2020, through different activities. Since 2023, Generation 2026 has focused on advancing safer, youth-inclusive sports with select host cities across the three North American countries. These cities include New York and New Jersey, Guadalajara, and Toronto.
Sport serves as a vibrant canvas upon which children learn the values of teamwork and discipline, and discover the pure exhilaration of play. Through sport, they find joy and camaraderie, reveling in the spirit of competition, whether in the humblest of playground matches or the grandest of stadiums.
However, this idyllic landscape is marred when the environments are not thoughtfully crafted with their needs at heart. When the innocence of sport is overshadowed by neglect or harm—on the pitch, behind the scenes, or within arenas—our young participants are left vulnerable, their potential unfulfilled, their voices stifled.
As focus turns to the 2026 World Cup in North America, it is our collective responsibility to kindle the spirit of sport as a beacon of safety, inclusivity, and empowerment. By elevating the voices of fans and athletes, young and old, we have the power to ignite a movement that will not only define Generation 2026 but will also fortify the foundations for future generations. Together, we can transform sport into a stronghold of community strength, ensuring that it remains a source of joy, a pathway to personal growth, and a unifying force for all.
The Centre for Sport and Human Rights is teaming up with North American partners in the host cities of Guadalajara, New York and New Jersey, and Toronto to improve child safeguarding in sport and increase child voice and participation.
Program Highlights
An initiative supporting youth in reporting on the impacts of the World Cup and sports in their cities.
Read more about Youth Media Forward here.
A coalition of athletes advocating for children’s rights.
Are you an athlete passionate about child rights and safer sports? Athlete Ambassadors across North America will act as champions to the Generation 2026 project, elevating public awareness and engagement on child rights in sport and the need for responsible, safe sport. Inspire the new generations and the adults in power to build a world where their voices are heard, and their ideas make an impact.
A tool capturing child and youth experiences, displayed in a map and dashboard.
Safeguarding Tools for Sport Organizations, Venues, and City Governments in development through expert working groups - if you’re interested in piloting these draft tools, please reach out to us at [email protected]
A resource for future host cities detailing effective approaches to child safeguarding.
A forum that will soon launch and be convened by CSHR for youth input from host cities.
The Child Rights & Sports Alliance was launched jointly in partnership with CSHR, Aspen Institute’s Project Play, the National League of Cities, UNICEF USA, and the U.S. Soccer Foundation, to elevate the rights and voices of young people to drive community impact in the planning, execution, and legacy of the FIFA World Cup 2026
By focusing on these elements, we aim to create a lasting positive impact on child safeguarding and child voice and participation in sports.
What are Child Rights?
Children have the same human rights as adults - as well as additional rights that are specific to their needs, like the right to play and the right of participation in any issue that affects them. Child rights are set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Convention has four guiding principles: non-discrimination; child participation; survival and development; and the best interests of the child. The “best interests” principle means that in all actions concerning children the best interests of the child is a primary consideration.
