Published on: 2026-08-31
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
August 31, 2026 Peace and Security
This year, 7.8 million fans attended the FIFA World Cup matches in Mexico alone. Sporting events of this scale can increase the risk of human trafficking and various other crimes, which is why the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), together with partners, conducted a series of preventive measures both in the lead-up to and during the tournament.
Countering human trafficking has become one of the key areas of work for the UNP during the two and a half years of preparations for the tournament. Employees of the México ContiGO tourist information kiosks received specialized training on issues of human trafficking, cybercrime, and psychoactive substance use.
Fernanda Mariano, a volunteer at one of such information points in Mexico City, told about an incident when several children regularly came to play foosball with them.
“We began to worry because they were alone, without adult supervision,” Fernanda said. “It was an opportunity to put into practice everything we were taught in training, including searching for adult family members. Later we found out that their parents were working nearby at the market, and we were able to find them.”
To reach workers who directly interact with the public in the transportation, hospitality, and medical sectors, UNP joined forces with Uber, the non-governmental organization fighting human trafficking SinTrata, and the Mexico City Civil Council for Security and Justice. Together, they launched the national initiative Mundial Sin Trata (“World Cup Without Human Trafficking”) as part of the UNP Blue Heart campaign.
The head of SinTrata, Mariana Ruenes, noted that many cases of human trafficking worldwide still go unnoticed.
“We have seen that when provided with the necessary information, ordinary citizens can play an important role in identifying such crimes,” she said, emphasizing the importance of private sector involvement in carrying out such initiatives, especially companies in the fields of travel, tourism, and healthcare.
The UNHCR also collaborated with Airbnb, organizing training for hundreds of property owners in Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey on recognizing signs of human trafficking.
“Airbnb actively promotes informational programs that help hosts and guests identify potential risks and take informed response measures, contributing to creating a safer environment both for visitors and local communities,” stated Jorge Valderrama, Director of Public Affairs for Airbnb in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean region.
Support for the victims
Even the most thorough preparation cannot prevent all possible incidents, so UNP, together with the embassies of Canada and the United Kingdom, trained security service employees, as well as workers in the fields of justice, tourism, and aviation, in skills to identify cases of violence against women and girls and to respond effectively to them.
“This training helped provide women and girls attending major sports and other mass events with necessary assistance in cases of gender-based violence, as well as other comprehensive support they need,” said Carla Lopez, an employee of the Mexico City Public Security Secretariat.
Enhancement of security measures
As millions of championship visitors arrived in Mexico through airports, UNP, together with the World Customs Organization and Interpol, organized training for staff at Mexico City International Airport on thorough document checks, risk analysis, and identification of human trafficking cases. This helped strengthen border security before and during the tournament.
Work to identify human trafficking was not limited to entry points into the country. To assist in detecting and preventing money laundering related to such crimes, the UNP, in partnership with the Mexican Banking Association and the Civil Council, distributed informational materials among more than 100,000 employees across over 11,000 bank branches nationwide.
Although the championship has ended and public attention has shifted to other events, the partnerships established during the tournament preparations and thousands of trained officials, homeowners, and volunteers will ensure a lasting effect: crime prevention and safety will remain priorities even after the World Cup concludes.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It presents an accurate account of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.