Legacy of SeattleFWC26 Includes Businesses Activated to Counter Human Trafficking

While the Men’s FIFA World Cup events were enjoyed by millions of visitors across all the Host Cities this summer, one long-lasting legacy of the matches in Seattle started back in June 2025. Through the Human Trafficking Prevention Initiative of the Seattle FWC26 Local Organizing Committee in partnership with BEST, businesses across Washington were activated to counter human trafficking over the last year!  

Thanks to sponsorship by the Seattle FWC26, at least one person from each of more than 80 employers in 20 industries located in 18 cities across Washington participated in one of the human trafficking prevention-oriented information or strategy development sessions the LOC co-led with BEST, and/or completed the BEST Basics course. From Bellingham in the north to Vancouver in the south, and from Olympia in the west to Spokane in the east, leaders from a wide range of businesses invested their time to learn ways their organizations can counter human trafficking-- and many of them used BEST’s training resources to equip their employees to recognize the signs of labor and sex trafficking and respond safely and effectively. (Although BEST does not publish the names of employers who use our resources without their permission, the cities and industries of the businesses that were activated through BEST’s partnership with the Seattle FWC26 are listed in the images above.)

Many business leaders realized for the first time that they and their staff can actually help counter human trafficking. Several made excellent use of the opportunity provided by the Seattle FWC26 to have their full staff complete human trafficking prevention training before the World Cup matches started. In the words of a restaurant owner who leveraged the opportunity for free access to BEST Basics this past spring:

“It's not like the training evaporates after the soccer is over, so as a small business I thought it was a great gift to have access to that caliber of training and to have it be free for our employees and managers. It was outstanding.” —Roz Edison, Co-Owner of Marination, quoted from the video summarized in this report by King5 News, 6/9/2026.

Other employers are now working directly with BEST to provide ongoing and/or more advanced training for their staff, in view of the ongoing need to counter human trafficking and this encouragement from the Seattle FWC26:

“It is a pleasure to work with BEST because their team combines deep subject-matter expertise with a practical, collaborative approach that truly empowers organizations to make a difference. Their commitment to creating safer communities and protecting vulnerable individuals aligns perfectly with our mission, and their professionalism and passion make our partnership both impactful and rewarding.

BEST’s expertise in guiding business leaders to develop prevention strategies is unique and fantastic—every business should make use of BEST’s guidance. BEST Basics training course is a terrific tool to equip public-facing employees to recognize and respond effectively to signs of human trafficking. We want thousands of people to complete BEST’s human trafficking prevention training." — Hedda McLendon, Senior Vice President of Legacy, Seattle FWC26

The legacy of Seattle FWC26 regarding countering human trafficking is clear and strong. Now it’s up to businesses to continue it.