September 30 – The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be hosted in Mexico, the United States and Canada, is on the horizon and SeattleFWC26 is teaming up with Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST) to confront an issue that shadows every global sporting event.
On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, Seattle-area business leaders will be invited to a free consulting workshop at the SeattleFWC26 office. The session is aimed at businesses operating near the stadium, waterfront, and Fan Zones – areas set to showcase a strong footfall during the tournament.
The workshop aims to provide guidance on how to draft anti-trafficking policies, set up reporting procedures, and train staff. Participants will also connect with other local businesses determined to make Seattle’s World Cup both festive and safe.
“Our goal is to ensure businesses along Seattle’s Unity Loop and Fan Zones are fully prepared to prevent human trafficking during the World Cup,” said Hedda McLendon, SVP Legacy. “This consulting gives business leaders actionable tools that make a real difference.”
For FIFA, the partnership is part of an effort to address an issue that has flared up at past tournaments. Sporting events of this magnitude bring tourists, but also attract traffickers. By equipping local businesses with workable tools, organisers hope Seattle can be proactive rather than reactive.
Alongside the October workshop, the initiative will provide free training for 2,500 staff, ongoing policy support, and a follow-up virtual Q&A in January 2026.
If the fight against human trafficking is to gain real ground, it starts with communities like Seattle, willing to lead by example.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at [email protected]