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FinCEN Warns of Human Trafficking Risks Ahead of 2026 World Cup

18 May 2026

FinCEN Warns of Human Trafficking Risks Ahead of 2026 World Cup

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a notice on human trafficking risks linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.  

 

 

Key points include:

➡️ Heightened Event Risk: Major events can create concentrated demand for licit and illicit services, increasing exposure to sex and labour trafficking risks in and around host cities;

➡️ Suspicious Activity Reporting: FinCEN strongly encourages firms to file Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) on potential human trafficking linked to the FIFA World Cup as soon as possible, regardless of threshold;

➡️ Law Enforcement Notification: Firms should also notify suspected human trafficking-related activity through the National Human Trafficking Hotline;

➡️ Information Sharing: FinCEN encourages voluntary domestic and cross-border information sharing between financial institutions to identify, report and prevent money laundering linked to human trafficking; and

➡️ Red Flag Awareness: Customer-facing staff should understand transactional and behavioural indicators, including unusual travel-related activity, cash deposits, peer-to-peer transfers, prepaid cards, withheld wages and limited spending on essential needs.

✅ Firms operating in or around World Cup host cities should refresh human trafficking typologies, front-line escalation procedures, SAR filing protocols and information-sharing arrangements ahead of the event.