04/26/2026
Meet our afternoon session speakers.
The focus shifts in the afternoon to Communities and Impacts. FIFPRO Secretary General Alex Phillips lays out a bold vision for the social contract with FIFA—arguing for smarter governance and a remission fund that channels wealth back to the players and grassroots communities who sustain the game.
Jennifer Li of Dignity 2026 then moderates a sharp critique of Human Rights Plans—Strategy vs. Reality in Host Cities, exposing the gaps between FIFA’s written commitments and on‑the‑ground implementation. A dynamic panel of leaders including Kumsa Baker of the Toronto Community Benefits Network, plus guests from Atlanta, New York, and Miami follows, sharing how host cities are rewriting the rules for mega‑events: securing fair labour, immigration protections, and lasting infrastructure that neighborhoods actually need.
Paul Alauzy of Le Revers de la Médaille, will share in a keynote about their collective’s experience in pushing back against “social cleansing” [a new term they introduced into public discourse in the lead-up to the Games] and dive into their propositions for moving toward a hosting model that actually protects a city’s most vulnerable residents and prioritizes human rights and housing over temporary optics - and how our social movements can gain momentum from organizing around mega-events to keep housing and health priorities on the agenda (during municipal elections, for example).
Finally, participants move into Working Together on Key Policy Areas—housing, public health, civil liberties, youth employment, and more—to forge concrete recommendations from the conference presentations and discussions. The participation of university researchers from ten Vancouver area university departments support facilitation that will shape the conference's final Impact Manifesto.
Secure your seat at the table. Registration via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/fifa-impacts-conference-tickets-1985335165925
FIFA Impacts Conference
Access to Sports, Community Benefits & Human Rights
Vancouver, Canada | April 29, 2026 Hybrid Event (In-Person & Online via Zoom)
Limited In-Person Seats | Global Online Participation
Copresenters: Capilano University, UBC Public Policy & Global Affairs, SFU Urban Studies, SFU Geography, SFU Public Policy. Produced by Civics Lab at Voor Urban Labs.
Lead Sponsors: Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Vancouver & Capilano University.
