Major global sporting events, like the FIFA World Cup, can be significant revenue opportunities for business owners. The upcoming World Cup in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, Seattle, New York, and San Francisco will bring spikes in foot traffic near stadiums, transit hubs, and entertainment districts, plus more hotel stays, dining, and last-minute retail purchases. However, the same surge can also increase risk: higher rates of theft and fraud, more after-hours break-ins, heavier pressure on staff and managers, and disruptions from road closures, demonstrations, and supply delays.
Preparing now for the FIFA World Cup helps you protect your people, premises, and profits—enabling your business to focus on positive growth and brand exposure while reducing preventable losses.
Background: The Cost of Security for a Global Stage
Year over year, security spending for major global sporting events continues to rise. The 2024 Olympics in Paris cited security spending in excess of 2 billion euros, while the previous World Cup in Qatar reported spending of more than $1.1 billion. That said, the security budget is only part of the picture of the true cost of these events. Direct incident costs, cybercrime and ransomware, reputational risk, and other lasting security impacts can affect businesses and cities for years after a global event.
Learn more about the risk considerations for FIFA in our blog.
In preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in U.S. host cities, retail shops, hospitality businesses, office towers, construction sites, industrial sites, and warehouses should thoroughly review their security programs and plans.
PalAmerican has created a quick start guide to ensure your security program is ready for the FIFA World Cup.
Common Security Threats During Large-Scale Events
- Counterfeit cash (U.S. and foreign) and chargebacks
- Theft from vehicles and loading bays
- After-hours break-ins
- Demonstrations, protests, and road closures
- Violence in crowds (consider “crowd-mentality violence”)
- Cybersecurity crimes (for example, event-ticket and parking-ticket scams)
Security Prevention & Preparation
- Access control: Ensure all building access points have appropriate control mechanisms (keys, access cards, gates, etc.). Conduct an audit to confirm there are no missing or unaccounted-for keys or fobs. Review your ingress and egress strategy, and complete a comprehensive facilities review to address vulnerabilities.
- Training and security awareness for staff and visitors: Refresh security training and policies for all staff, contractors, and visitors before World Cup events. Regular reminders can help keep security top of mind throughout the tournament.
- Conduct a risk assessment: Identify potential threats, evaluate your building’s vulnerabilities, review physical security controls, and develop—and practice—an emergency response plan.
Speak to one of PalAmerican’s experts today for a security program audit
Crime Detection & Deterrence
- Proper security systems and surveillance: Ensure that security systems (access control, cameras, etc.) are in good working order, recently updated, and optimized for high-traffic zones or areas with a history of incidents.
- Adequate security presence: Ensure security posts are appropriately staffed for any anticipated influx in traffic or incidents. Hiring staff for event security ensures your security team is trained in crowd-control behaviors, pre-incident indicator recognition, and behavioral baselining. Consider increasing mobile security patrols for additional off-hours coverage.
Incident Response
- A robust emergency response and crisis management plan: An updated emergency response plan (ERP) and business continuity plan (BCP) help ensure incidents are anticipated and handled effectively. Similarly, an updated crisis management plan (CMP) helps staff understand the appropriate protocols and communication channels during a crisis.
- Tabletop exercises: Practicing anticipated security-threat responses can help you walk through response plans and protocols.
- Live updates on security incidents: Technology like BlueSky from Paladin Risk can help you monitor nearby threats. PalAmerican Security clients can also use our Downtown Integrated Security Community (DISC) program, as part of our mobile patrol service, for real-time updates on local issues. Faster alerts support faster decisions and better outcomes for your property.
Resources
Check with your local police or sheriff department for safety and security guidelines, including threat updates to watch for.
Before World Cup events, review event-permitting resources and emergency-planning guides from your city. These resources typically include location-specific information and emergency escalation protocols.
Need a sophisticated security program review? Speak to one of our experts today to schedule your security program audit.