Major events do not automatically cause trafficking, but large visitor flows can create vulnerabilities. New arrivals may bring money, anonymity and demand for commercial sex into crowded cities, while online advertisements can make exploitation harder to detect.
The report cites research linking major entertainment events with increases in online commercial-sex advertising. That connection is not proof that every event produces trafficking, but it underlines why tournament planning cannot focus only on security, transport and crowd control.
The legal distinction is also important. A person’s claimed age, apparent consent or vulnerable circumstances may conceal exploitation, particularly when children, homelessness, addiction or coercion are involved.
The proposed safeguards place hotels, short-term rentals, motels and transport workers on the front line. Staff may notice repeated room bookings, controlling companions, threats, injuries or a young person being moved between locations before authorities do.
Training must therefore be practical rather than symbolic:
The report describes cases in which trained workers helped bring vulnerable people to law enforcement. Such interventions depend on preparation, confidentiality and a response system that does not place the burden on the victim.
For and the host cities, the measure of success will be whether these plans operate during the tournament’s busiest periods, not simply whether they appear in official documents. That means consistent training, coordinated reporting and accountability across public agencies and private businesses.
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, the next storyline will be whether host cities turn human-rights commitments into visible safeguards around hotels, transport hubs and fan gatherings.