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Officials step up human-trafficking enforcement as World Cup draws crowds to NY, NJ
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Jun 17, 2026
Modified Jun 17, 2026
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Photo by Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Jun 17, 2026
Modified Jun 17, 2026
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City officials are urging New Yorkers to be vigilant for signs of human trafficking over the next few weeks, as major events like the FIFA World Cup converge and heighten the risk of exploitation.
Their efforts to spread awareness come as city, state and federal agencies have implemented a slew of other initiatives across the region including an ad campaign along routes to the stadium, increased police presence in transit hubs, and meetings with FIFA staff to share guidance and resources.
About 1.2 million people are expected to visit the city for the global soccer tournament and other high-profile summer celebrations, including America’s 250th anniversary, according to the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender Based Violence. Officials warn that the influx of people leads to increased demand for sex work and opportunities for forced labor.
"We have been preparing for months for this," said NYPD Lt. Christopher Zizza, who works with the citywide human trafficking squad. “We're monitoring online, we're monitoring hotspots.”
Sex trafficking occurs when someone is forced to perform sexual acts against their will under threat or coercion, while labor trafficking could happen when workers are forced to stay at their jobs far beyond their regular shifts, fearing retribution like pay cuts or immigration enforcement.
“There are so many different warning signs, and every victim and every survivor has a different story,” said Kathleen Baer, the NYPD’s assistant commissioner for gender-based violence police and planning.
The NYPD and the mayor’s office say potential warning signs include someone who appears to be dressed inappropriately for the weather, a younger person with a much older person, or someone who seems like they can’t speak for themselves and is looking to another person for the answer.
They said a victim can also be someone who is engaging in sex acts to repay a debt, someone who owes money for their transport to the United States, a person who isn’t in control of their own passport or legal documents, someone who has untreated injuries, or a person who is unable to leave their job site, even after the workday has ended.
“It's important to realize it's not just one individual indicator. It's more the totality of the circumstances,” Zizza said.
Concerned bystanders can call 911, or the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-577-TIPS. They can also dial the department’s Human Trafficking Hotline at 646-610-7272, walk into a nearby police precinct, or flag down an officer, the officials said.
“I cannot stress enough how important it is for people to feel safe coming and speaking to us. You will be treated as a survivor that you are, and we will get you the help you need,” Zizza said, adding that survivors who come forward to report their experiences will not be charged with a crime.
The mayor’s office has a variety of services and resources available to people who are affected by human trafficking, including at New York City’s Family Justice Centers, which are in each borough and offer free and confidential assistance to survivors of all gender-based violence.
Staff members from the city agency have also been out in the field, meeting with FIFA employees who can respond to reports onsite at MetLife Stadium.
“We've collaboratively developed a best practices guide for how to identify all forms of gender-based violence and support appropriate referrals for those who are impacted,” said Bernie Lubell, a spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence.
They have also partnered with nonprofit It's a Penalty on an ad campaign that highlights potential signs of human trafficking and ways to report it and seek help. The ads will run through this month and next on LinkNYC kiosks and additional locations along the route to MetLife.
On the other side of the Hudson, New Jersey officials say they are equally committed to cracking down on all forms of human trafficking and exploitation during the World Cup.
“As fans and spectators make their way to our region, to both East Rutherford and across the river in Pennsylvania, most are coming for their love of the game, to share the joy that only a global sporting event can bring,” said the state’s Attorney General Jennifer Davenport. “But among them could be … human traffickers and the buyers they serve. We want victims and survivors to know that help is available and a way out is within reach.”
Michael Sol Warren contributed reporting.
Correction: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Kathleen Baer's name.
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World Cup 2026
human trafficking
new jersey
new york
Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
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