With several games scheduled in cities nationwide, such as major venues in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, the United States (U.S.) faces the task of ensuring the safety of attendees from around the world. As the United States prepares to host the 2026 Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup, a tournament of immense magnitude, the focus is not only on the quality of the competition but also on the critical aspects of stadium security and crowd control. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will mark the first time the tournament features 48 teams with 104 matches hosted throughout Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. (FIFA, 2024).

Recent incidents occurring at large-scale events in the U.S. have raised concerns about the readiness to respond and manage the security demands of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The U.S. has experienced high-profile stadium-related security issues during popular concerts and sporting events. In 2021, the tragic crowd surge at the Astroworld Festival in Houston, Texas, highlighted the dangers of inadequate crowd management. More recently, incidents of violence and security breaches at the National Football League (NFL) games have underscored gaps in safety protocols. Additionally, a serious altercation occurred during a Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean (CONCACAF) Gold Cup match hosted in Santa Clara, California, where a Mexican soccer fan stabbed another fan, further highlighting violent acts in stadiums (Lopez, 2023). These challenges emphasize the importance of addressing vulnerabilities in crowd control, stadium security, and emergency preparedness for mass gatherings.

One of the primary challenges is the sheer volume of spectators expected to attend all the World Cup matches. With expanded stadium capacities, some games will attract over 70,000 fans at once indicating the need for appropriate safety planning. Events at the 2024 Copa America final in Hard Rock Stadium have demonstrated various failures due to poor event security and organization, particularly when fans without tickets breached the stadium and bypassed security (Cattry, 2024). In such environment, U.S. stadiums must consider the risk of overcrowding in fan zones, bottlenecked entry and exit points, fans illegally entering restricted areas, and civil unrest—all problems that could lead to dangerous outcomes.

Another layer of concern arises from the heightened security required for an international event of this scale. The 2026 World Cup will present international coordination hurdles that demand the integration of diverse entities to ensure seamless logistical security and operational cooperation between host nations. The vast influx of foreign visitors, including political leaders and famous celebrities, could not only elevate the profile of U.S. stadiums but also businesses surrounding the venue as targets for potential terror attacks. In 2015, the Islamic State (IS) militant group carried out a series of attacks involving three suicide bombs and multiple shootings, targeting the security checkpoint, stadium entrance, and a nearby fast-food outlet during a France soccer match at the Stade de France (BBC News, 2015). This underscores the significance of fostering cross-cultural competence to enhance coordination with foreign partners, ensuring better crowd control and mitigating possible security threats.

As security planning for the 2026 World Cup progresses, the upcoming two years will be critical for testing and refining a comprehensive safety and contingency framework. Felipe den Brok, Executive Director of Atlanta’s Emergency Preparedness Department, emphasized that their training schedule to prepare for hosting eight World Cup games, includes tabletop exercises, risk management, crowd management, human trafficking courses, and scenario-based drills, involving law enforcement, public safety, and critical infrastructure partners (Ridderbusch, 2024). Equipping personnel with practical experience and de-escalation skills necessary to manage a high volume of fans will be vital for maintaining crowd control. These efforts, combined with advanced technology such as drones with crowd-monitoring capabilities, fusion centers, and a region-wide integrated communication network, are expected to be crucial in responding to threats during the tournament (Ridderbusch, 2024). While in the early stages of development, the UEFA Euro 2024 highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) powered software, such as the “Escape Pro” system, which tracks crowd flow by calculating the number of people entering and exiting areas, as well as overall crowd density and movement patterns (George, 2024). This software can provide real-time data on stadium conditions and crowd dynamics to optimize the deployment of emergency resources and identify congestion points to prevent overcrowding.

The 2026 World Cup presents a unique opportunity for the U.S. to demonstrate its infrastructure capabilities, which encompass the ability to accommodate stadium facilities, manage transportation networks, utilize security measures, and incorporate technological systems required to support large-scale events. By integrating lessons learned from previous incidents and implementing cutting-edge technology, the U.S. has the potential to set a new global standard for event safety. However, the success of the event will depend on coordinated operations, thorough preparedness, and proactive crowd management strategies to ensure the safety of all stakeholders.

 

References

BBC News. (2025, December 9). Paris attacks: What happened on the night. Retrieved from Paris attacks: What happened on the night – BBC News

Cattry, P. (2024, July 15). Why CONMEBOL deserves blame for Copa America organizational failures; what’s next for U.S. World Cup stadiums. Retrieved from Why CONMEBOL deserves blame for Copa America organizational failures; what’s next for U.S. World Cup stadiums – CBSSports.com

FIFA. (2024, January 30). FIFA World Cup 26: Host countries, cities, dates, teams. Tickets, qualifying and more. Retrieved from FIFA World Cup 2026™ | Host Cities, Dates, Teams & more

George, N. (2024). Euro 2024: The Pinnacle of Technological Advancements in Football. Retrieved from Euro 2024: Der Höhepunkt des technologischen Fortschritts im Fußball (zone14.ai)

Lopez, E. (2023, July 4). FMF condemns stabbing during Mexico vs Qatar Gold Cup clash. Retrieved from FMF condemns stabbing during Mexico vs Qatar Gold Cup clash – AS USA

Ridderbusch, K. (2024, April 19). Across North America, police and public safety are bracing for the biggest sports event in history. Retrieved from Large event security: Police plans for the FIFA World Cup 2026 (police1.com)