Lawyers for Civil Rights Launches “Fair Play Off the Pitch” Initiative Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026
Multilingual legal resources will help workers and vendors understand their rights
As Massachusetts prepares to welcome visitors from around the world during FIFA World Cup 2026, Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) is launching Fair Play Off the Pitch, a multilingual public education initiative designed to help workers, vendors, small businesses, and community members understand their legal rights.
Major sporting events can generate significant economic activity and create new employment and business opportunities. They can also increase risks of wage theft, worker misclassification, labor exploitation, workplace harassment, discrimination, domestic violence, and other legal issues that may be difficult to identify or address without access to accurate information and resources.
Through multilingual Know-Your-Rights materials, fact sheets, and community trainings, Fair Play Off the Pitch seeks to equip community members with practical information about their rights, how to recognize potential violations, how to document concerns, and where to seek assistance if problems arise.
“Major sporting events should leave behind more than economic benefits—they should also strengthen and protect the communities that make them possible,” said Marly Frederique, LCR’s Community Organizing Manager. “Fair Play Off the Pitch is about ensuring that workers, small businesses, vendors, immigrants, and families understand their rights and know where to turn if those rights are violated.”
The initiative covers topics including:
- Wage theft and unpaid wages
- Worker misclassification
- Labor trafficking and exploitation
- Workplace harassment and discrimination
- Domestic violence and community safety
- Immigration-related protections for survivors
- Accessing legal and community resources
The materials will emphasize that workers have rights regardless of immigration status and that documenting workplace conditions, incidents, and communications can be critical in protecting those rights.
Fair Play Off the Pitch will be developed in collaboration with community partners and made available in multiple languages to reach workers and residents across Massachusetts.
Organizations interested in receiving materials, partnering on outreach efforts, or hosting a Know Your Rights training are encouraged to contact justice@lawyersforcivilrights.org.
Legal and community resources are available here: