According to The Athletic, 384 domestic abuse reports related to football were made in England and Wales during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, setting a record for men's major tournaments.

A total of 384 domestic abuse incidents were reported to UK Football Policing, higher than any of the previous two FIFA World Cups and two Euros. During the tournament, domestic abuse incidents accounted for 17% of all incidents reported to UK Football Policing. England finished third in this tournament after losing to Argentina in the semi-finals.

UK Football Policing stated that the behavior of England fans traveling to the USA and Mexico to watch matches was "exemplary," with only 22 incidents leading to police action. However, the situation within the UK was very different. During the tournament, the total number of various incidents reported to UK Football Policing was 2,322, exceeding all comparable tournaments except Euro 2020, which was actually held in the summer of 2021.

93% of the reported incidents were related to England's matches, with peaks during England's quarter-final against Norway and semi-final against Argentina.

Experts had previously explained to The Athletic why they were concerned about a rise in domestic abuse incidents during the tournament.

Veronica Oakeshott, Head of External Affairs at Women's Aid, a domestic abuse charity, stated: "Football tournaments do not cause domestic abuse, but factors associated with major matches, such as increased alcohol consumption and heightened emotions, can exacerbate existing domestic abuse in terms of frequency and severity."

Mark Roberts, Head of Football Policing at the National Police Chiefs' Council, called on politicians to take a more comprehensive look at changes to licensing regulations during tournaments and recognize the impact of these changes on crime issues.

During the FIFA World Cup, venues in England were granted extended operating hours for England's knockout stage matches. England defeated Mexico in the round of 16 at the Estadio Azteca, a match originally scheduled to kick off at 8 PM Beijing Time (CEST), and the decision to allow businesses to operate until 12 AM Beijing Time (CEST) was made only a few days prior.

When speaking to reporters after the match, Roberts expressed concern that more "street drinking" could lead to "more harm in homes."

When asked about the reasons for the increase in incidents during the tournament, including the number of domestic abuse cases recorded, Roberts said: "Football acts as a catalyst, causing some people to drink excessively. We see this every week in nightlife settings, and the police are very accustomed to dealing with these types of issues, with alcohol being the primary driver."

"I think some licensing arrangements exacerbated this. We need to reflect, evaluate, and rely on existing procedures to support the hospitality industry, but also maintain the right balance in terms of public safety."

"The National Police Chiefs' Council will conduct extensive research on domestic abuse and violence against women and girls. We need to analyze and truly understand the problem before we can try to develop targeted solutions."

Roberts also mentioned that in England and Wales, several serious incidents occurred after matches with extended licensing hours. After the match against Argentina, a man was stabbed at a licensed venue; in another incident, a police station was surrounded by fans after a match, with bottles and other objects being thrown at officers, and fans jumping on police vehicles. After England's quarter-final against Norway, a man was also stabbed after leaving a licensed venue.

Ahead of the UK hosting Euro 2028, Roberts stated that UK Football Policing hopes to continue discussions around licensing issues.

Roberts said: "I have no doubt that from an organizational and policing perspective, Euro 2028 will be a very safe tournament and a great spectacle. That being said, we will not be complacent."

"We are raising these issues now because we should not be formulating licensing policies 48 hours before a match. We need to start these conversations now to ensure we have a very clear understanding of the situation, establish a good basis for judgment, and then work around that."

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