Authorities Gear Up for Sex Trafficking Crackdown Ahead of 2026 World Cup

Santa Clara County law enforcement prepares for increased trafficking risks around major soccer tournament

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Santa Clara County law enforcement officials are preparing to combat sex trafficking ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, building on lessons learned from a crackdown around the 2022 Super Bowl. Authorities say major sporting events create conditions that traffickers look to exploit, and they are taking a regional, multi-agency approach to prevention and victim recovery efforts.

Why it matters

The 2026 World Cup will bring millions of global visitors to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, presenting new challenges around cultural awareness and differing laws regarding sex trafficking and solicitation. Authorities are working to get ahead of these issues by coordinating outreach, awareness campaigns, and intelligence-sharing across multiple jurisdictions.

The details

After the 2022 Super Bowl in Santa Clara, the county's Human Trafficking Task Force reported arresting 29 traffickers and recovering 73 sex trafficking victims, 10 of whom were minors. Now, with the World Cup coming to Levi's Stadium and other venues in 2026, the same agencies are preparing a regional, multi-jurisdictional response. This includes a dedicated command center, outreach at airports, billboard campaigns, and coordination with foreign consulates to spread awareness internationally.

  • The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 13 to July 1.
  • The Super Bowl crackdown in Santa Clara County occurred in 2022.

The players

Lt. Joshua Singleton

Task force commander for the Santa Clara County Human Trafficking Task Force.

Santa Clara County District Attorney's Human Trafficking Task Force

A multi-agency task force that led the sex trafficking crackdown around the 2022 Super Bowl and is now preparing for the 2026 World Cup.

In Our Backyard

A nonprofit organization that partnered with the task force on the Super Bowl crackdown and is involved in the World Cup preparations.

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

A nonprofit that provided analysts to the task force's command center during the Super Bowl and is involved in the World Cup preparations.

Los Angeles Human Trafficking Task Force

A task force that the Santa Clara County team is coordinating with, as Los Angeles is set to host matches during the 2026 World Cup.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The Super Bowl provided opportunities for increased awareness partnerships with analysts from various law enforcement agencies including prosecutors and community-based organizations. We are already working with other local, state, and federal analysts to prepare for the upcoming World Cup.”

— Lt. Joshua Singleton, Task force commander

“One obstacle is creating cultural awareness around sex trafficking among people who may be used to different laws in their home country regarding sex solicitation.”

— Lt. Joshua Singleton, Task force commander

What’s next

The Santa Clara County Human Trafficking Task Force is already working with other local, state, and federal agencies, as well as nonprofit partners, to coordinate a regional response and outreach efforts ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

The takeaway

Major sporting events like the World Cup create conditions that traffickers seek to exploit, requiring a coordinated, multi-jurisdictional approach to prevention and victim recovery efforts. Authorities are working to get ahead of these challenges by building on lessons learned from past crackdowns and adapting their strategies to the global scale and cultural diversity of World Cup attendees.