Canada’s financial intelligence agency is warning that the FIFA World Cup could increase the risk of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, saying large international sporting events create greater demand for illicit services.
Large-scale events typically drive surges in demand not only for illicit services, but also for labour in hospitality and other tourism-related industries—factors that can leave vulnerable people, including temporary foreign workers, at greater risk of exploitation, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) said in a recent bulletin.
“Major international sporting and entertainment events can draw hundreds of thousands of domestic and international visitors to host cities,” the bulletin says. “This influx is likely to drive increased economic activity across hospitality, entertainment, transportation, and tourism-related sectors, including sectors that may be vulnerable to human trafficking-related exploitation.”
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will take place from June 11 to July 19 and will be jointly hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico. In Canada, matches will be played in Toronto and Vancouver, with Toronto hosting the opening Canadian match on June 12 and Vancouver staging multiple group-stage and knockout games.
Across North America, the tournament will feature 104 matches in 16 cities, and is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of international visitors per host country.
FINTRAC issued the bulletin to help businesses covered under Canada’s anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing laws identify financial transactions that could be linked to human trafficking around the events.
Indicators of money laundering tied to human trafficking can include increased cash transactions around venues, hotels, and transportation hubs, the agency said. They may also include funds flowing through multiple accounts, prepaid payment products, and rapid transfers or withdrawals designed to obscure the source of proceeds during high-traffic event periods.
Indicators of sexual exploitation include spikes in peer-to-peer payments from multiple unrelated individuals, rapid transfers or withdrawals of funds, heavy use of cash or prepaid payment products, payments for online escort ads, and frequent ATM use near hotels, entertainment districts, or event venues.
The agency also warned that victims may show signs of financial control, including accounts quickly depleting after deposits, coordinated transaction patterns across multiple individuals, and evidence that a third party is directing account activity.
Warning signs of labour exploitation can include irregular payroll activity in industries tied to major events, such as hospitality, cleaning, construction, and transportation, along with wages routed through shared accounts, disproportionate deductions for fees or housing, and rapid withdrawals of payroll deposits.
The agency said victims may display limited financial independence, including accounts controlled by others, little spending on basic necessities despite employment income, and workers housed in overcrowded accommodations linked to a single employer or address.
Statistics Canada data shows that Canadian police reported more than 5,000 human trafficking incidents between 2014 and 2024. Most victims are women and people under age 25. Roughly 70 percent of identified cases involve sexual exploitation, while about 22 percent involve labour trafficking, with common sectors including agriculture, construction, hospitality, and caregiving.
Those with information about suspected cases of exploitation can report it at Cybertip.ca for online sexual exploitation or the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline.
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