With Canada gearing up to host the upcoming World Cup soccer tournament, the federal financial intelligence agency has issued a caution about the heightened risk of human trafficking during major sporting events.
A recent bulletin from the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (Fintrac) urges businesses to be vigilant for financial transactions possibly linked to trafficking for sexual exploitation or forced labor.
Fintrac, which sifts through vast amounts of data annually from various financial institutions, including banks, credit unions, and casinos, identifies cash flows associated with money laundering.
The agency shares its findings with law enforcement agencies, such as the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the RCMP, to combat activities related to human trafficking.
In the fiscal year 2024-25, Fintrac provided 316 actionable financial intelligence disclosures to aid human trafficking investigations, pinpointing 538 individuals of interest and supporting 26 project-level probes.
The 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, is set to take place from June 11 to July 19.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is coming to Canada — and it’s going to be the biggest in the competition’s history. It’s the first to be hosted in three countries — and Canada is hoping it’ll also have its first-ever World Cup win.
The event will feature 104 games involving 48 countries, including 13 matches in Toronto and Vancouver.
The bulletin points out that large international events can attract a significant number of visitors, potentially leading to a rise in the risk of sexual exploitation, especially when there is a surge in demand for services near event venues and transit hubs.
As traffickers may adapt their strategies to exploit the increased demand, vulnerable individuals could face heightened risks during major events, Fintrac emphasizes.
According to the bulletin, sexual exploitation during such events might be facilitated through online platforms like escort sites, classified ads, and social media.
The bulletin highlights that traffickers could exploit the situation to increase their activities or relocate victims to areas with higher demand for their services. Additionally, major events may drive the need for workers in various sectors, potentially creating opportunities for traffickers to exploit vulnerable individuals.
“Increased labor needs in these sectors could allow traffickers to take advantage of vulnerable individuals through deceptive recruitment practices,” the bulletin states.
The bulletin also notes that financial activities related to labor trafficking might be mingled with legitimate business transactions and payroll-related operations.
