As the 2026 FIFA World Cup draws millions of visitors to Mexico, survivors of human trafficking are raising urgent alarms about the heightened risk of exploitation. Activists like Karla Jacinto, who was forced into prostitution at age 12, are sharing their harrowing stories to educate tourists and locals alike.
Jacinto, now an activist in her early thirties, recalls being lured by a man who promised love and a better life. Within months, she was sold to dozens of clients daily in Guadalajara. After four years of unimaginable abuse, she escaped and now works with organizations like Fundación Libera México to help other victims.
“I can tell you from my own experience that during the time my trafficker sexually exploited me, there was an increase in demand for prostitution during sporting events,” said Mixi Cruz, another survivor who was forced into sex work as a teenager in Mexico City.
Human trafficking — both for sexual and labor exploitation — is one of the fastest-growing criminal enterprises in Mexico, fueled by cartels such as Jalisco New Generation and Sinaloa. Official figures show a sharp rise in reported victims, from 537 in 2017 to 1,154 in 2025, but NGOs believe these numbers represent only a fraction of actual cases. Only about 2% of trafficking incidents are ever reported to authorities.
The World Cup, hosted across Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey, is expected to attract millions of tourists. Activists fear that criminal groups will exploit the influx to target vulnerable individuals — including children — through false job offers, romantic manipulation, and outright coercion. Red-light districts in the capital already show young women and minors openly lined up under the watch of pimps, often undeterred by local authorities.
“Mexico is not prepared to host a World Cup,” Cruz said, criticizing government corruption and impunity. “The government isn’t doing enough.”
In response, several initiatives have been launched. The Citizens’ Council for Security and Justice of Mexico City runs a national hotline (800-5533-000) and partners with the UN and Uber to promote reporting. UNICEF is training hotel staff to spot signs of trafficking, and the “Zero Tolerance-Blue Card” campaign encourages guests to report suspicious behavior.
Labor trafficking is also a concern. Survivor Zunduri, who asked to use a pseudonym, was lured at age 17 by a family promising care, only to be forced into domestic servitude and later chained for six months in a dry-cleaning business. She now works with Libera to support others.
Shelters like that of Fundación Libera México provide safe spaces where survivors — some as young as 6 — can rebuild their lives through therapy, education, and routine. “For us, it’s about accompanying them, building a life project, and hand in hand with them in this painful process, we are going to rebuild the person,” said co-founder Paola Tolsá.
As the tournament begins, Jacinto and other activists emphasize that the fight against trafficking must continue long after the final whistle. “I think one of the things that might work is that today we talk not only about the World Cup, but also about what happens beyond the World Cup,” she said.
If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, help is available. In the US, call 888-373-7888. In Mexico, call 800-5533-000.
