Behind the World Cup: The race to find missing children
As millions of fans packed stadiums and billions watched the 2026 FIFA World Cup unfold, another race was underway – one the public never saw.
Behind the cheers, celebrations and global spotlight, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) was supporting law enforcement to help recover missing children at-risk of being trafficked for sex during one of the world's largest sporting events.
Now, the results are in: 64 missing children were safely recovered during operations conducted around World Cup events across the country, children whose stories could have ended very differently.
NCMEC assisted the White House World Cup Task Force, which brought together local, state and federal law enforcement to share leads, technology and resources throughout the tournament. Large sporting events create opportunities for traffickers because of large crowds, an influx of cash and stretched local resources. Today, most children are sold for sex online, which adds another dimension.
"Child sex trafficking is an inherently complicated crime driven by the anonymity of the internet, the constant movement of victims and the profound trauma they endure," said Staca Shehan, vice president of the Analytical Services Division, who oversees NCMEC's anti-trafficking efforts. "When games are spread across multiple cities, often at the same time, and generate countless viewing events, identifying and recovering victims becomes even more challenging."
Last year alone, NCMEC's CyberTipline, the nation's centralized reporting system for online child sexual exploitation, received more than 113,500 reports related to child sex trafficking. And, of the more than 32,000 reports of missing children to NCMEC, 1 in 7 were likely victims of child sex trafficking. These two data sources make NCMEC uniquely situated to contribute our analytical resources to support law enforcement anti-trafficking operations surrounding the World Cup.
NCMEC analysts created a secure, interactive map highlighting missing children believed to be trafficking victims in cities hosting World Cup events. Investigators could access the map in real time, and receive social media activity, online escort ads and other leads connected to each child.
The map, provided by longtime partner Esri, a mapping software company, and other technology tools quickly proved their value.
Working from NCMEC headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, analysts using technology to monitor online activity received an alert tied to a missing child who had previously been recovered but had resurfaced in a new escort advertisement in Houston, where the tournament was played at NRG Stadium.
NCMEC immediately sent the ad and an analytical report to the FBI. Houston police then contacted NCMEC for additional information about the child's identity and guardian. Within hours, the FBI confirmed that law enforcement had safely recovered the child using information provided by NCMEC.
It was one recovery among dozens during the operation, but it illustrates how data, technology and collaboration can make the difference between continued sexual exploitation and safety.
NCMEC has helped law enforcement during other major sporting events, including the Super Bowl and Formula One races, but never on a stage as large or geographically complex as the FIFA World Cup.
"We were honored to support law enforcement during the World Cup and demonstrate how data, analysis and technology can help recover children from sex trafficking," said Shehan. "Just as offenders continue to evolve their methods and share information, we must continue working together to better protect our nation's children."
To read more about how technology is used to find child sex trafficking victims, check out our blog at https://www.ncmec.org/blog/2025/spotlight-on-ai-finding-hidden-trafficking-victims.