Ottawa, 9 June 2026 – On Thursday, the FIFA World Cup kicks off in North America, with games taking place across Canada, Mexico, and the United States over the next five weeks. While fans across all three countries eagerly anticipate their teams playing, women’s organizations are raising the alarm about likely increased levels of gender-based violence.
Women’s Shelters Canada, Red Nacional de Refugios (Mexico), and the National Network to End Domestic Violence (USA) are national networks of shelters for women, children, and gender-diverse people fleeing violence. The three organizations, all members of the Global Network of Women’s Shelters, are collaborating on an international, trilingual campaign to ensure that World Cup fans experiencing violence are aware of local supports.
All three host countries are experiencing escalating rates of domestic and family violence. In Canada, three-quarters of surveyed women’s shelters reported growing demands for their services, with over half seeing increased severity of violence post-pandemic. In Mexico, cases of family violence are increasing nationwide, while the three World Cup host states in Mexico – Mexico City, Nuevo León and Jalisco – have some of the highest records of family violence in the country. In the United States, the percentage of violent crimes within domestic relationships has increased over the last five years, with 11,000 domestic violence murders per year.
Internationally, according to UNESCO and UN Women, police reports of domestic violence rise up to 33% during major sporting events such as the World Cup, often due to abusers choosing to take advantage of social stress, crowding, and alcohol-fuelled environments. While the outcome of each match is unpredictable, the increase in domestic violence is not. Help is available in each country. In Canada, local shelters and their 24/7 crisis line are available on ShelterSafe.ca. In Mexico, 24/7 support and guidance are available at +52 55 29 72 64 45 | 1- 800 822 4460 | WhatsApp +55 6473 3004. In the United States, people can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by phone (1-800-799-SAFE), chat (TheHotline.org), or text (START to 88788) for 24/7 support in over 200 languages.
Quotes
“This campaign is about raising awareness about all the supports shelters provide, regardless of citizenship. Anyone visiting Canada, Mexico, or the United States to attend matches can reach out to a local shelter for support if they or someone they know is experiencing violence. We believe you, and you’re not alone.” – Anuradha Dugal, executive director of Women’s Shelters Canada
"Violence against women knows no borders, and neither should prevention. Today, we are coordinating efforts from Mexico with organizations from the United States and Canada because the safety and lives of women cannot be left out of the conversation." – Wendy Figueroa Morales, general director of Red Nacional de Refugios, Mexico
“Victims of abuse deserve to be safe and supported everywhere, including during the World Cup. We’re proud to unite across borders to promote resources, raise awareness, and work together toward a world where domestic violence no longer exists.” – Tonia Moultry-Pace, Interim President & CEO of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, United States
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Women's Shelters Canada supports more than 600 shelters for women, children and gender-diverse people fleeing violence in Canada. Before, during and after the FIFA World Cup, WSC encourages people to develop a plan of action if they or someone they know could experience violence.
Red Nacional de Refugios (RNR) is a feminist civil society organization that for more than 25 years has accompanied women and, where appropriate, their daughters and sons to guarantee their right to live free of violence, through spaces for care, prevention and protection of free specialized services.
The National Network to End Domestic Violence is a social change organization in the United States dedicated to creating a social, political, and economic environment in which domestic violence ceases to exist.
Press Contacts:
Canada | Women’s Shelters Canada | media@endvaw.ca
Mexico | National Network of Shelters | +52 55 5506 7774 | comunicacion@rednacionalderefugios.org.mx
USA | National Network to End Domestic Violence | Communications@NNEDV.org