Mexican human trafficking victims rose 47% during World Cup: report

The number of Mexican victims of human trafficking surged by 47% during June and July 2026, the months when the country hosted World Cup matches, a report by the Citizen Council for Security and Justice of Mexico City revealed. This period saw a dramatic increase in Mexican women falling victim to trafficking, reaching 90% of all female victims, compared to 43% in 2025.

The report, titled "Sixth Report on Human Trafficking 2025-2026," suggests that the World Cup intensified the demand for sexual services from international tourists. This demand disproportionately targeted Mexican women, who were perceived as offering a more "exotic" local experience. While the overall dynamics of the crime did not change drastically, the influx of tourists during the global sporting event exacerbated existing vulnerabilities.

Of the reported cases, 73% involved Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). The remaining 27% were spread across eight other forms of exploitation, including prostitution, forced labor, forced begging, illegal adoption, forced marriage, and organ trafficking. The report highlights that trafficking networks are adapting their methods to technological, social, and economic changes, constantly evolving their operational strategies.

Mexico City played a significant role in reporting and addressing these crimes, accounting for 29% of all national calls and support requests related to human trafficking. The Citizen Council's National Line and Chat Against Human Trafficking gathered the data for this report, reflecting trends and indicators from cases handled through their services.

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El periodo mundialista no modificó la dinámica general del delito, pero sí acentuó la demanda de servicios sexuales de mujeres por parte de turistas de todas partes del mundo, en particular de mujeres mexicanas, ello se deduce a partir de un dato relevante donde el número de víctimas mujeres de nacionalidad mexicana incrementó a un 90%, en comparación con el 43% de víctimas mexicanas reportadas durante el 2025