Jackson Irvine, a midfielder for Australia's national soccer team, is known as a unionist and activist who champions inclusion and stands firmly for his beliefs on and off the pitch [1, 2, 3]. In November 2022, Irvine and 15 other Australian players released a video highlighting concerns over migrant worker conditions and calling for the decriminalisation of same-sex relationships in Qatar before the World Cup held there [1, 2, 3].

The players spent more than six months preparing their statement, consulting migrant workers, international labor organizations, and human rights groups to ensure it was well-informed and impactful [1, 2, 3]. Irvine said, "It wasn't throwing an armband on and saying, you know, this is what we believe. We did our preparation, we made our statement, and then once we got to Qatar, we were able to focus on performing and it led to our best-ever finish at the World Cup" [1]. Australia went on to achieve its best-ever finish at the 2022 World Cup [1, 2, 3].

The upcoming 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has drawn warnings from activists and NGOs about potential human rights abuses for athletes, fans, and workers. Concerns include immigration crackdowns and deportations under the previous Trump administration [1, 2, 3].

Australia's national soccer players' union, co-presided by Irvine, has urged FIFA to address these risks more effectively [1, 2, 3]. Beau Busch, chief of Professional Footballers Australia (PFA), said, "The players' rightful expectation is that FIFA respects and protects the human rights of all involved in the World Cup. To date we are not satisfied that the players' expectations are being met." [2] FIFA President Gianni Infantino has maintained that all participants will be welcome at the tournament [1, 2, 3].

Irvine suggested a repeat of the 2022 protest at the 2026 World Cup is unlikely, noting the team is different and more focused on football [1, 2, 3]. When interviewed in May 2026, he emphasized balancing personal beliefs with soccer ambitions as the team prepares for the event [1, 2, 3].

The 2026 World Cup will begin in June 2026, with Australia aiming to build on its historic 2022 performance.