Community activists and hospitality workers gathered Thursday outside the FIFA Congress meeting in Vancouver, voicing concerns that World Cup preparations are harming the city’s most vulnerable populations.
Members of an anti-FIFA coalition accused city officials of already beginning to displace homeless residents through increased street cleanups, tent restrictions, and seizure of personal belongings.
The demonstrators demanded an end to police raids on homeless camps and criticized Vancouver’s February human rights action plan for the tournament as insufficient and lacking concrete commitments.
“There’s a lot of anxiety and fear in the community about what’s going to happen with the FIFA games,” community advocate Fiona York told Reuters.
York explained that many homeless individuals worry about experiencing the same treatment as during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, when residents recall heightened displacement and increased police presence. She contended that tournament funds could better serve the community by supporting shelters, small housing units, or secure parking areas for people living in vehicles.
“Right now there’s already a crisis and there’s a big fear that it’s going to get even worse,” she said.
Hotel workers from Unite Here Local 40 joined the demonstration outside the Pan Pacific Hotel, where FIFA Congress attendees were reportedly lodged.
Union representative Michelle Travis explained that rising hotel rates have not translated to improved wages for employees, many of whom face lengthy commutes because Vancouver’s cost of living prevents them from residing in the city.
The demonstrators urged FIFA and tournament organizers to prevent the World Cup from exacerbating homelessness, displacement, or worker struggles, proposing a “FIFA dividend” to compensate affected communities.
“Folks love FIFA, they love soccer, but they also want to make sure that these events aren’t pushing people out, whether they work in the hotels, whether they’re on the streets,” she said.
“They want to see FIFA contribute if they’re going to be here.”
Vancouver is scheduled to host its first of seven World Cup matches on June 13.
