Human Trafficking Doesn’t Spike With Major Sporting Events— But Vulnerability Does
The conditions that enable exploitation are always present. Public conversations often link major sporting events to increases in trafficking. The evidence tells a different story.
Myth vs. reality
Myth
Major sporting events lead to spikes in sex trafficking.
Reality
There is no empirical evidence of a significant increase in sex trafficking tied to major sporting events.
- Studies consistently fail to show measurable spikes.
- Increased attention often reflects greater visibility—not increased incidence.
- Local data from Los Angeles showed no increase in survivors served during the 2022 Super Bowl compared with the year prior.
Major sporting events may amplify awareness—but they do not drive sex trafficking.
What actually drives human trafficking
Human trafficking is not caused by single events. It is driven by systemic and structural vulnerabilities that exist before, during, and after any major sporting event.
Housing instability
Homelessness and housing insecurity create acute vulnerability.
Economic precarity
Poverty and lack of opportunity limit options and increase risk.
Criminalization
Criminalization, discrimination, and family separation create systemic barriers to safety.
Labor exploitation
Weak worker protections leave people exposed to traffickers.
Immigration vulnerability
Lack of legal status or pathways increases susceptibility.
Limited access to services
Without access to healthcare, legal services, and community support, vulnerability deepens.
Why This Myth Matters
Focusing on major sporting events as the primary driver of human trafficking can lead to misguided responses that cause real harm.
- Diverts funding from long-term prevention and survivor services.
- Increases policing and surveillance in already vulnerable communities.
- Displaces unhoused and marginalized populations.
- Reinforces policies that criminalize survivors instead of supporting them.
A smarter approach for major events
Major sporting events like the 2026 World Cup present an opportunity—not a cause. Research shows sex trafficking does not increase during these events, but existing vulnerabilities can be intensified depending on policy responses.
What doesn’t work
- Increased policing and surveillance of vulnerable communities
- Displacement of unhoused populations before major sporting events
- Criminalization-based approaches
What works instead
- Invest in communities before, during, and after major sporting events
- Strengthen protections for workers and vulnerable populations
- Fund survivor-centered services and long-term prevention
Let’s Focus on What Actually Works
How we frame this issue shapes where resources go, and whether solutions actually prevent harm.