FIFA World Cup banners are seen on light standards on the Cambie Bridge, in Vancouver, on May 4, 2026. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck
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.
