The 2026 World Cup will bring millions of visitors, short-term jobs, bookings and payments to host cities across the United States, Mexico and Canada. Authorities and Church officials now warn that criminal networks could exploit the sudden concentration of people, work and money.
The 2026 World Cup is expected to bring millions of visitors and billions in spending, but officials warn that criminal networks may seek to exploit the influx. Photo: Hector Vivas/Getty Images
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held from 11 June to 19 July across the United States, Mexico and Canada. As millions of visitors prepare to travel between host cities, authorities and organizations are warning that the tournament could create openings for human trafficking and sexual exploitation. The risks are tied not only to crowded accommodation and increased transport demand, but also to the short-term hiring of additional workers around the event.
In the United States, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), an agency under the Treasury Department, has issued a notice to financial institutions. Banks and other businesses covered by the Bank Secrecy Act are being urged to pay particular attention to and report suspicious activity linked to human trafficking during the World Cup. The agency notes that major events can generate concentrated demand for legal and illegal services.
According to FinCEN, the notice was prepared in consultation with the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026. Formally, it is addressed to financial institutions. In practice, however, its significance may extend beyond banks. Companies in hospitality, transport, retail, event logistics and staffing may find it harder in future to argue that they were unaware of relevant risks around the World Cup.
FinCEN names 10 indicators that financial institutions should consider when detecting suspicious activity. The decisive factor is not a single sign, but the overall picture created by several irregularities and a customer’s previous behavior.
The indicators include unusually high local travel costs within a short period near a host venue, especially late at night or early in the morning and without an apparent business or lawful purpose. Accounts may also raise concerns if they show few expenses for basic needs, while payments from several third parties are received and quickly passed on to one person or company.
Other warning signs include high spending on accommodation, personal goods, travel or bulk purchases of prepaid cards where there is no clear lawful purpose. In the case of business accounts, absent or unusually low wage costs compared with similar companies in the same sector may point to irregularities.
Particular attention is being paid to cash movements and digital payment services. Frequent deposits or withdrawals at automated teller machines, especially at petrol stations between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., followed by rapid transfers via payment apps, may be suspicious, according to the agency. The same applies to payments from accounts with no previous business relationship, especially if payment references contain vague terms such as “services”, “personal care”, “wellness”, “advertisements” or “donation”.
Suspicious activity reports linked to the World Cup should be marked with the keyword FIN-2026-HTWORLDCUP. FinCEN recommends that such reports be filed as quickly as possible, even when usual dollar thresholds are not met.
Warnings about potential crimes around the World Cup have also been issued in Mexico. According to EWTN News, the Archdiocese of Mexico City called on authorities, Church leaders and wider society to strengthen prevention, early detection, responsible reporting and support for potential victims.
The archdiocese described the World Cup as an opportunity for encounter, coexistence, fraternity and exchange between cultures. At the same time, it warned that criminal networks could exploit the tournament.
Such networks operate through deception, manipulation, coercion, exploitation and abuse. The Church cited assessments by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNICEF and Amnesty International. Those organizations see the massive influx of tourists as a possible factor in sexual exploitation.
The archdiocese is calling for targeted awareness campaigns. Pastors, priests, deacons, members of religious orders, catechists and pastoral workers are to provide information on such crimes in Church spaces. Materials should also be displayed visibly, and parents and guardians should be informed about risks in the digital environment.
For possible suspected cases, the Church advises against confronting alleged perpetrators or traffickers directly and against publicly exposing possible victims. Instead, the relevant authorities should be informed.
National and international organizations have set up the Mundial sin Trata platform for the World Cup, providing information and materials.
The guidance is also relevant for non-financial companies. Sectors that expect more guests, short-notice bookings, additional journeys or temporary staffing needs during the World Cup are particularly exposed. They include hotels, event venues, security services, ride-hailing and transport providers, restaurants, retailers and staffing agencies.
The FinCEN notice does not create immediate new regulatory obligations for such companies. However, the warning may influence which precautions are later regarded as appropriate. Companies that rely on subcontractors or additional workers during the tournament should therefore assess whether their procedures are prepared for possible warning signs.
Such measures include training for employees with customer contact, clear internal reporting channels and documentation of the steps taken. Staff at reception desks, in transport services, at security checks or in workforce planning may observe details that are relevant to authorities. These include people who cannot speak freely, do not have their own identity documents, appear visibly intimidated or are controlled by others.
Contracts with service providers and staffing agencies may also play a role. Companies should check whether agreements contain anti-trafficking clauses, audit rights and termination options in the event of relevant violations. When temporary staffing needs rise around a major event, the risk increases that problematic recruitment structures may go undetected.
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