During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the United Kingdom experienced an unprecedented surge in domestic abuse reports, according to the latest policing statistics. In total, 384 incidents of domestic violence were logged over the course of the tournament, accounting for roughly 17 percent of all 2,322 reported cases during that period. The overwhelming majority of these assaults – 93 percent – occurred in the vicinity of England’s matches, a figure only surpassed by the figures recorded during Euro 2020, which was held in 2021.
Officials have described the upward trend as deeply troubling, with alcohol repeatedly identified as the primary catalyst. Chief Constable Mark Roberts, who serves as the Football Policing National Lead and oversees football‑related policing across 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 rising domestic abuse, together with increased offences around licensed venues, has been evident across several major tournaments and will remain a focal point for future planning. One particular flashpoint was the alteration of licensing hours just 48 hours before the England‑Mexico group‑stage match. Roberts explained that the police had known the fixture schedule since December, allowing them to map out potential trouble spots well in advance.
However, the last‑minute extension of licensing laws on the Friday before a Sunday game left officers with insufficient time to redeploy resources. "We accept the difficulties, but I made representations to the government saying there is already a perfectly adequate system in place. We receive plenty of notice before fixtures; we should stick with that," he said.
"Establishments can apply for extensions if they are well‑run, but changing the law at the eleventh hour prevents us from limiting activity in specific areas and is frustrating. If you know a fixture is likely to happen months in advance, we need to do better than amending the law two days before the match." In addition to the domestic abuse spike, online hate crimes also rose sharply.
Police recorded 293 online hate incidents – the second‑highest total after Euro 2020, when 393 such offences were logged. Of the 750 referrals related to England’s matches, all were examined, and 293 met the legal threshold for prosecution. While the data are still being analysed, authorities believe a significant portion of the abusive content originated from outside the UK. Roberts highlighted the challenges of pursuing offenders abroad: "Some of this material is vile and offensive, but it doesn’t meet the legal threshold.
When it does, we identify the perpetrator. If they are based in the UK, the UK Football Policing Unit forwards the case to the local force for prosecution. During the recent Women’s Euros we successfully prosecuted individuals who targeted Jess Carter.
The process works when the offender is domestic. The difficulty arises when the source is overseas, because we depend on foreign law‑enforcement agencies, each with their own legal frameworks. No other country currently takes online hate as seriously as we do. We will continue to encourage cooperation and pursue prosecution wherever possible, but domestic offenders will certainly be brought to justice." The insights gathered from the 2026 World Cup will feed directly into the massive policing preparations already under way for Euro 2028, a tournament that will be co‑hosted by England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.
Roberts stressed the need to address licensing issues first: "We need a clear, consistent policy. The event itself will be spectacular, but we must learn from this experience." He also warned that the security landscape will evolve over the next two years, noting that geopolitical shifts can create new threats. "We must conduct robust intelligence gathering to understand risks from other nations, treating behaviour rather than reputation as the metric. Some visiting fans are more problematic than our own, so we must have plans ranging from denying entry to managing conduct on the ground.
Each host city must define responsibilities, ownership and local licensing policies, ensuring that potential threats are mitigated with concrete strategies." While the domestic situation continues to be examined, Roberts expressed satisfaction with the conduct of English supporters who travelled to North America for the tournament. Data from the Football Policing Unit showed only 22 police "actions" involving England fans at the World Cup, a modest increase from zero incidents in Qatar 2022 and a similar figure in Russia 2018. Considering that more than 100,000 English supporters attended matches this year – compared with roughly 7,000 in Qatar and 5,000 in Russia – the low number of incidents earned Roberts high praise. "The fans who travelled abroad were an absolute credit," he said.
"Their enthusiasm was fantastic, and moments like the spontaneous singing of 'Wonderwall' by supporters and players will be remembered forever. The overall behaviour was exemplary." Particular commendation was given to the England‑Mexico last‑16 match at the Azteca Stadium, where the Football Supporters' Association reported a warm camaraderie between the two fanbases. Mexican supporters were observed congratulating English fans and wishing them luck both inside and outside the arena.
The 22 police actions recorded comprised a range of public‑order offences: unauthorised entry, assault, ticket touting, intoxication, ejection from venues, and a single case of sexual battery that, after review, did not warrant prosecution. Alcohol was identified as the contributing factor in the majority of these incidents, underscoring the recurring link between excessive drinking and disorderly conduct during major sporting events.