During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the United Kingdom experienced an unprecedented spike in domestic abuse reports, according to official statistics released after the tournament. In total, 384 separate incidents of domestic violence were logged over the course of the competition, accounting for roughly 17 percent of the 2,322 total cases recorded during that period.
The majority of these incidents—93 percent—took place in the vicinity of England’s matches, a figure only surpassed by the numbers recorded during the rescheduled Euro 2020 tournament held in 2021. The sharp rise has been described by law‑enforcement officials as deeply troubling, with alcohol repeatedly identified as the principal catalyst behind the surge.
Chief Constable Mark Roberts, who serves as the Football Policing National Lead and oversees policing of football events throughout the UK, told Sky Sports News that "the vast majority of it [incidents] we'd say were alcohol related and that's a real concern." He added that the pattern of increased domestic abuse and disturbances around licensed premises has been evident across multiple major tournaments, and that addressing this trend will be a priority as authorities plan for future events. One particular flashpoint was the change to licensing hours that occurred just 48 hours before the England‑Mexico group‑stage match.
Roberts explained that the police had known the fixture schedule since December and had mapped out likely trouble‑spots well in advance. However, the sudden extension of licensing laws on the Friday preceding a Sunday game left officers with insufficient time to adjust staffing rosters. "We accept the difficulties, but for myself, I made our representations to the government to say: ‘Look, there's a perfectly adequate system here.
We've got plenty of notices before fixtures, stick with the system.’" he said. He argued that venues could apply for extensions if they demonstrated robust management, but the last‑minute legal change prevented police from imposing targeted restrictions in specific areas, a situation he described as "frustrating". In addition to physical assaults, the tournament saw a notable increase in online hate crime. Police recorded 293 incidents that met the legal threshold for prosecution, making it the second‑highest figure after Euro 2020, when 393 online hate crimes were logged.
Overall, 750 referrals relating to England matches were examined, with the majority originating from outside the United Kingdom. Roberts noted that while some of the content was "vile" and "grossly offensive," it did not always satisfy the legal definition of hate crime.
When offenders were identified within the UK, the United Kingdom Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) forwarded the cases to local forces for prosecution. He cited the successful prosecution of individuals who targeted England women’s‑team player Jess Carter during the recent Women’s Euros as an example of the process working effectively. Cross‑border enforcement, however, remains a challenge. "If the offender is abroad, we are dependent on foreign law‑enforcement agencies, which operate under different statutes and often lack the same level of commitment to these offences," Roberts explained.
He urged international cooperation, emphasizing that the UK would continue to share evidence and encourage foreign authorities to act, while insisting that any perpetrator located on British soil would face prosecution. The data gathered from the 2026 World Cup will feed directly into the extensive policing strategy currently being developed for Euro 2028, a tournament set to be co‑hosted by England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.
Roberts highlighted licensing policy as a key area for improvement: "We need to be really clear and have a policy in place. In terms of the event itself, I think it will be fantastic. It will be an incredible spectacle." He also warned that the security landscape will evolve over the next two years, with shifting geopolitical tensions and differing fan behaviours abroad requiring continuous intelligence gathering and adaptable risk assessments.
Understanding the conduct of visiting supporters is another priority. Roberts pointed out that fans from some foreign nations have historically presented greater challenges than domestic crowds, necessitating pre‑emptive measures ranging from entry restrictions to on‑the‑ground management plans.
He called on each host city to define clear responsibilities, ownership structures, and local licensing policies to mitigate potential threats. Despite the domestic challenges, Roberts expressed satisfaction with the conduct of English supporters who traveled to the United States, Mexico and Canada for the tournament. The Football Policing Unit reported only 22 police "actions" involving England fans at the World Cup—a modest increase from the zero actions recorded during the Qatar tournament and the three incidents logged in Russia 2018.
Given that an estimated 100,000 English fans attended matches abroad, compared with just 7,000 in Qatar and 5,000 in Russia, the low number of incidents was hailed as a positive outcome. Roberts praised the traveling fans, saying, "I think the fans who travelled out there, almost exclusive, were an absolute credit. They enjoyed it. The support of the team was fantastic.
I don't think anyone will ever forget the scenes of 'Wonderwall' with the fans and the players singing it. So, I think that behaviour was really good as expected. That was a real positive." Particular commendation was directed at the England‑Mexico last‑16 match at the Estadio Azteca, where the Football Supporters' Association reported a warm camaraderie between English and Mexican supporters, including numerous instances of Mexican fans congratulating the English side both inside and outside the stadium.
The breakdown of the 22 police actions revealed a mix of public‑order offences, unauthorised entry, assault, touting, intoxication, ejection and a single case of sexual battery that, after review, did not result in prosecution. Alcohol was again identified as the primary contributing factor in most of these incidents.
The experience gained from monitoring and responding to these events will inform future policing models, ensuring that both physical safety and online security are addressed comprehensively as the UK prepares for the upcoming Euro 2028 championships.