Federal and state law enforcement agencies recovered 48 missing children in Massachusetts during a multi-agency effort tied to the FIFA World Cup, the U.S. Marshals Service announced on Aug. 10, describing results of a campaign that ran through the tournament period and beyond.
The operation, called Operation Yellow Card, was designed to locate missing young people at risk of human trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation, violence and other forms of victimization during a period when Massachusetts was hosting World Cup matches and expecting an influx of international visitors. Massachusetts hosted seven matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup from June through July, and law enforcement anticipated that large crowds and the presence of international travelers could increase trafficking and child exploitation risks in the Boston metropolitan area.
Those recovered were between 12 and 17 years old. Several were found outside Massachusetts after investigators tracked leads across the country and to multiple states. All 48 have since been reunited with their families or referred to appropriate welfare and victim services.
How the operation worked
The collaborative effort involved local, state and federal law enforcement agencies that began in the months leading up to the World Cup. The Marshals Service described it as a strengthening of security measures designed not only to address traditional public safety concerns around a major international event but also to address the particular vulnerability of missing young people during periods of mass gatherings and elevated transient foot traffic.
Large international sporting events have historically drawn attention from law enforcement and child protection organizations because the combination of crowds, temporary visitors, cash-intensive environments and disrupted normal social patterns can create conditions in which exploitation is harder to detect and easier to conceal. Law enforcement in other World Cup host cities across the United States undertook similar elevated monitoring during the tournament.
The children and their outcomes
The Marshals Service’s announcement that all 48 have been either reunited with families or connected to child welfare services provides the most important context for the operation’s results. The mission is not simply to close missing person cases but to ensure that those found are placed in safe and stable situations and that underlying risk factors are addressed through appropriate services.
The fact that several children were found in other states reflects the cross-jurisdictional nature of such cases, particularly those involving trafficking risk. When a child goes missing in one state and investigators develop leads suggesting they may have traveled or been taken elsewhere, multi-agency coordination becomes essential. The ability to track those leads across state lines and recover the missing at distant locations is a function of the federal resources the Marshals Service brings to these operations.
The broader context
Major international events create both opportunities and risks for child protection. On the opportunity side, the concentration of law enforcement resources and the heightened attention to public safety during large events can lead to increased identification of missing or exploited children who might otherwise have gone undetected. On the risk side, the conditions created by mass gatherings, elevated visitor populations and disrupted routines can make vulnerable young people more exposed.
The 48 young people recovered and connected to services over the course of the tournament in Massachusetts represent a meaningful outcome. The operation will likely be assessed by law enforcement and child protection advocates as a model for how host cities can use a major international event to actively pursue missing person cases rather than simply managing crowd security.
