Domestic abuse reports increase sharply during 2026 World Cup in UK

During the ongoing 2026 World Cup, domestic abuse reports in the UK have reached record highs. A total of 2,322 incidents were reported, with 384 classified as domestic violence, primarily occurring around England's matches. Chief Constable Mark Roberts attributed much of the rise to alcohol-related incidents and expressed concerns over changes to licensing laws just before key matches. In addition to domestic violence, online hate incidents also saw an increase, registering 293 cases, the second most reported after Euro 2020. The data is expected to inform police planning for upcoming Euro 2028 matches co-hosted by the UK.