The Dark Side of the Pitch: Securing the 2026 World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup presents a massive global stage, but its unmatched visibility is already attracting a complex web of physical, digital, and geopolitical security threats across the US, Mexico, and Canada. In this episode, we break down how host nations are preparing for vastly different physical risks, ranging from transnational organized crime in Mexico to violent extremists targeting fan zones during the US 250th Independence Day celebrations. We also dive into the digital battleground, exploring how cybercriminals are using artificial intelligence to scale ticketing fraud, and how state-sponsored threat groups from Russia, China, and Iran are exploiting the tournament for intelligence gathering and disruptive cyberattacks.

https://www.recordedfuture.com/research/2026-fifa-world-cup-threats

https://www.recordedfuture.com/blog/2026-fifa-world-cup-cyber-physical-threats-security-guide

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