SETDAB World Cup Communications 2026

While many people look forward to the excitement of football tournaments like the World Cup, for people who are in abusive relationships, football tournaments can increase the abuse they face. Some factors that can exacerbate an already existing problem include alcohol intake, drug taking and gambling addictions.

Studies conducted in the United Kingdom have shown a significant rise in domestic violence incidents during major football tournaments. A study by Lancaster University found that, domestic violence incidents rose by 38% when England lost a match and by 26% when they won or drew.

SETDAB has worked closely with The Next Chapter and the wider partnership to develop a poster and social media toolkit to raise awareness of the link between football and domestic abuse. Our aim is to ensure more people understand that incidents can increase during major tournaments and signpost to support.

Get Involved

If you are a voluntary or statutory organisation in Essex, Thurrock or Southend, that can support our shared vision ‘to enable everyone to live a life free from all forms of domestic abuse’, we invite you to share these resources across your channels.  

Download print and display the poster

Poster download

Social media content

Whilst the social media content can be changed to adapt to your own branding and style, we ask that all content signposts to Compass, the Essex-wide domestic abuse helpline.  Please also use the hashtag #AbuseOffside to help with monitoring and evaluation.

Social media assets

General awareness

Survivor/Bystander Focus

Survivor Focus

People causing harm

Find the content copy to use alongside the images

Please check this page again for further content from our #REFLECT campaign