The House Committee on Homeland Security has announced a hearing focused on efforts to prevent human trafficking at major upcoming sporting events in the United States, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The hearing, titled “A Scourge Against Humanity: Addressing Human Trafficking at Mass Gatherings,” is scheduled for Wednesday, December 17, at 2:00 PM ET in Washington, D.C.
House Committee on Homeland Security Vice Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX), who chairs the bipartisan Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events in the United States, emphasized the risks associated with these high-profile events. “The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest sporting event in history, and the 2028 Olympics will draw millions of visitors to the Los Angeles area. As a former federal prosecutor, I know that while these sporting events offer powerful opportunities to showcase America’s leadership and commitment to excellence, they could create opportunities for criminals to profit from the exploitation of vulnerable people,” McCaul said. “In this hearing, we will examine ways to prevent human trafficking operations during upcoming mass gatherings, ensure law enforcement agencies have the resources and information-sharing capabilities to effectively detect this abhorrent criminal industry, and rescue victims in our communities.”
Witnesses set to testify include Eliza McCoy of the American Hotel and Lodging Association Foundation; Yasmin Vafa of Rights4Girls; and Jonathan Thompson from the National Sheriff’s Association. Their testimony will address prevention strategies as well as coordination among law enforcement and private sector partners.
The task force was established by the committee in May 2025 to oversee security preparations for large-scale domestic and international events hosted by the United States. This includes not only the FIFA World Cup in 2026 but also celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary that same year and both Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
Preparations are extensive due to anticipated attendance figures. The World Cup is expected to host over five million fans traveling across eleven U.S. cities with more than seventy matches taking place throughout June and July of 2026. Online viewership could reach up to six billion globally. The Summer Olympics are scheduled from July through August 2028 with Paralympic competitions following shortly after.
Congress has allocated significant funding toward these efforts through budget reconciliation measures passed earlier this year—$625 million designated for World Cup-related preparations and $1 billion set aside for Olympic security initiatives.
Committee oversight activities leading up to this hearing have included reviews of past incidents at similar mass gatherings as well as briefings with key organizers such as representatives from FIFA and LA28—the organizing committee responsible for delivering both Olympic events.
The December hearing will be open to both press (with congressional credentials) and members of the public via livestream.
