Report: Mexico World Cup Matches Could Boost Forced Prostitution Controlled by Drug Cartels

The arrival of the World Cup in Mexico will bring more than the world's biggest soccer tournament. It is also expected to create new opportunities for criminal groups and drug cartels to profit from human trafficking.

Mexico will host 13 matches during the 2026 World Cup, including five in Mexico City and four each in Guadalajara and Monterrey. But according to recent reports in Mexican media, the prostitution market in all three cities is expected to surge during the tournament, due to the heavy influence criminal organizations have in those markets, with experts saying part of the money generated by the influx of visitors could end up in their hands.

According to a report by Animal Político, prostitution in Monterrey is dominated by the Northeast Cartel, a splinter group that emerged from Los Zetas. The outlet also reported the presence of Los Billys, a group with roots in the Beltrán Leyva Organization.

In other parts of Monterrey, Animal Político reported that the Sinaloa cartel maintains a presence in the Barrio Antiguo district, a nightlife area filled with bars where escort services are common.

Guadalajara is largely controlled by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), where people involved in prostitution are reportedly required to pay fees to cartel operators.

According to the outlet, human trafficking is more complex in Mexico City, where several criminal organizations divide territory among themselves.

In the southern part of the city, the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua shares territory with the Tláhuac cartel. The CJNG also maintains a presence in central areas of the city, including Lindavista and Vallejo, while the Sinaloa cartel operates in eastern Mexico City.

Human trafficking and prostitution have become an increasingly important source of revenue for Mexican cartels. According to a report by Milenio, nine out of 10 drug cartels and criminal cells profit from forced prostitution.

The business also shows little signs of slowing down. According to Milenio,

The outlet also reported that the global black market generated by the practice is estimated at $99 billion annually, citing figures from the International Labor Organization.

Víctor Sánchez Valdés, a public security specialist and researcher at the Autonomous University of Coahuila, told Milenio that by controlling prostitution, criminal organizations also gain influence over local drug distribution networks, as victims are often used to sell drugs or gather intelligence on rival groups.