48 Missing Children Rescued During World Cup Operation in Massachusetts: US Marshals Service

Forty-eight missing children from Massachusetts have been rescued during a multi-agency operation tied to the FIFA World Cup, the U.S. Marshals Service said on Aug. 10 as it announced the conclusion of the operation.

Massachusetts hosted seven matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup from June to July. In the months leading up to and including the tournament, local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies strengthened security measures to ensure the safety of the nation and soccer fans from all around the world.

They also launched “Operation Yellow Card,” a collaborative effort to recover children reported missing within and from Massachusetts. It aimed to locate missing children at risk of human trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation, violence, and other forms of victimization during the competition.

Authorities anticipated an influx of international visitors to the Boston metropolitan area for the tournament, when large crowds can increase the risk of trafficking and child exploitation.

The U.S. Marshals Service said the rescued children were between 12 and 17 years old. Several of them were found outside state borders after investigators tracked leads across the country and to multiple states.

The children have since been reunited with their families or referred to child welfare and victim services, the service said.

“There is no greater measure of success than knowing that 48 children who were once missing are now safe because dedicated law enforcement professionals refused to stop searching for them,” Dennis Matulewicz, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts, said in a statement.

The U.S. Marshals Service and other federal agencies, the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations, partnered with the Massachusetts State Police High Risk Victims Unit, the Boston Police Department Human Trafficking Unit, the Boston Family Justice Center, and many others in the operation.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in a July 7 statement it had deployed more than 700 personnel to ensure security during the World Cup.

The agency said its personnel were focused on enhancing traveler processing, strengthening security measures, and enforcing laws against illegal trade and human trafficking throughout the tournament.

The U.S. Marshals Service said the operation also led to new investigations into suspected kidnapping, child exploitation, human trafficking, and other related criminal offenses.

Boston Police Department Commissioner Michael A. Cox said on Aug. 10 that while Operation Yellow Card has concluded, efforts to locate missing children are ongoing.

“This investigation resulted in these young survivors returning to their loved ones,” Cox said. “This important work was done surrounding the World Cup events, but it continues year-round for our detectives alongside our law enforcement partners.”

The public is urged to report information about missing or exploited children to local law enforcement or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST).