Houston community leaders warn World Cup could worsen sex trafficking crisis

HOUSTON — Houston has long carried the grim title of being the sex trafficking capital of the United States, and community leaders warn the problem could get worse when the world’s attention turns to the city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

On Monday, city leaders, faith groups, and anti-trafficking advocates gathered outside Houston City Hall to urge local officials to take stronger action — and invest more resources — before the expected surge in trafficking arrives.

Advocates said while Houston has cracked down on known trafficking zones like the Bissonnet Track, the problem hasn’t gone away. Instead, they say, it has moved behind closed doors — into hotels, nightclubs, and neighborhoods. They pointed to recent cases, including the arrest of a man who called himself the “Mayor of Bissonn