2026 World Cup Kickoff: Security, Favorites, and the Fight Against Trafficking

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11 with host nation Mexico taking on South Africa at the historic Estadio Azteca. The tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is the largest in history, featuring 48 teams across 16 cities. As the opening match begins, host nations are not just focused on football—they're navigating massive security deployments, transportation shutdowns, and, in the U.S., a multi-agency effort to combat an expected surge in human trafficking. Here is a breakdown of the on-the-ground preparations, the tournament's new format, the early favorites to lift the trophy, and the anti-trafficking measures in place.

Mexico shuts down a city for opening day

For the opening match, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum declared sweeping traffic-reduction measures across Mexico City. Schools at all educational levels were suspended, public employees were ordered to remote work, and private companies were urged to adopt teleworking arrangements to ease the pressure on transportation networks .

The public safety operation behind the event is even more formidable. Under Plan Kukulkán, the Mexican government has deployed more than 100,000 security personnel—a mix of soldiers, National Guard members, and police—concentrated across the three host cities: Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey . The capital alone has assigned 11,219 officers and over 1,000 vehicles, with 7,708 dedicated specifically to the stadium for the June 11 opener . Advanced security systems, including anti-drone units and surveillance networks, are operational around stadiums, fan zones, and airports .

President Sheinbaum has repeatedly stated there is "no risk" for fans, a declaration made following the assassination of a prominent cartel leader earlier in the year . However, logistical challenges persist. Ongoing workers' union protests have intermittently blocked areas near Mexico City's historic center, including major arteries like Paseo de la Reforma, posing traffic snarls on the tournament's first day .

A tournament spread across three nations and 16 cities

The 2026 World Cup marks the first time three nations co-host the event. Running from June 11 to July 19, 2026, the tournament has expanded from 32 to 48 teams, divided into 12 groups of four nations . The top two teams from each group, plus the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to a new round of 32 . In total, 104 matches will be played across 16 host cities :

• United States (11 cities): Los Angeles, New York/New Jersey, Miami, Atlanta, Seattle, Houston, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Boston, Dallas, and San Francisco Bay Area.
• Mexico (3 cities): Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey.
• Canada (2 cities): Vancouver, Toronto.

The opening match is at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, making it the first stadium to host three World Cup openers . The final will be played on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey .

The favorites: Spain and France lead a tight pack

As the tournament begins, European heavyweights are the clear frontrunners according to betting markets. Spain and France have been trading places as the narrow favorite in the final days before kickoff .

• Spain tops many boards at around +450 to +480, with a Kalshi implied probability of 17.2% . They are the Euro 2024 champions and enter with a deep, star-studded lineup.
• France is essentially co-favored, with odds as low as +470 on FanDuel and a 16.2% implied probability on Kalshi . The depth of the French squad keeps them at the top of most books.
• England is a solid third choice, generally priced between +600 and +700 .
• Brazil is the highest-rated South American squad, listed around +800 to +850, ahead of Argentina .
• Argentina, the defending champions, sits further back at around +900 to +1000, facing long odds to become the first back-to-back winner since Brazil in 1962 .

Other teams in the top tier include Portugal (+850) and Germany (+1400), while the United States, a co-host, is a distant longshot at 50-1 . Across all markets, the consensus is that a European champion is the most likely outcome .

U.S. authorities brace for a trafficking surge

The sheer scale of the tournament—its duration, the influx of millions of visitors, and its geographic spread across North America—has led Thomson Reuters to describe the human trafficking risk as "unprecedented" . In response, U.S. federal, state, and local agencies have launched a multi-layered effort.

• FinCEN financial advisory: In May 2026, the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued a notice urging banks and businesses in and around host cities to monitor for financial indicators of trafficking, signaling increased regulatory scrutiny .
• FBI and law enforcement: The FBI has specifically incorporated human trafficking into its security planning, alongside terrorism and cybercrime . Police departments in host cities like Boston have already planned sting operations targeting the sex trade in anticipation of the crowds .
• Congressional action: The House Homeland Security Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events held hearings in December 2025 to assess trafficking prevention . Senators, including Jon Ossoff, sent letters directing law enforcement agencies to identify and respond to increased risk .
• City-level initiatives: Seattle launched a "Human Trafficking Prevention Initiative," and Houston published a Human Rights Action Plan . Atlanta has boosted anti-trafficking training for hotel and travel staff .

However, preparations have faced notable criticism. A February 2026 report found most U.S. host cities still lacked publicly available human rights plans two months before kickoff, and there was no dedicated anti-trafficking funding in place at that stage . Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services awarded its World Cup anti-trafficking grant to Compass Connections, a company that was under investigation related to the sponsorship of migrant children .

As the matches begin, the tension between the celebration of sport and the darker risks that accompany massive global events is on full display.