What We Know: A major law enforcement operation during the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Kansas City resulted in 19 arrests and helped locate nine children, according to the FBI.
The effort brought together more than 15 local, state and federal agencies. Investigators carried out 17 operations targeting people suspected of seeking commercial sex or attempting to exploit children.
Nine people were also connected with victim services.
What It Means: FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Chris Ormerod said the operation showed that human trafficking and child exploitation remain serious concerns. He said agencies worked together throughout the World Cup and will continue focusing on recovering victims and holding offenders accountable.
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves praised the partnership, saying operations like this help rescue vulnerable victims while removing dangerous offenders from the community.
The FBI says human trafficking can happen anywhere, from small towns to large cities. It may involve forced labor or commercial sex through force, fraud or coercion.
The operation included the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, along with the Kansas City Police Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol, U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations and several other law enforcement agencies from Missouri and Kansas.
What’s Next: Anyone with information about suspected human trafficking is encouraged to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or text 233733.
Anyone in immediate danger should call 911.
(Information provided by the F.B.I.
(Photo provided by F.B.I. Kansas City Office Facebook page)