What is the World Cup?
The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup will be held from June 11 – July 19, 2026, in 16 cities
across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The 2026 World Cup will feature 104
matches between 48 countries (up from 32 in previous years) and marks the first time
a World Cup has been hosted by more than one country. The influx of hundreds of thousands
of foreign visitors, including prominent global leaders, requires a multi-faceted,
comprehensive safety and security plan not just for the stadium and its immediate
surroundings, but also for the city, state, and broader geographic regions.
The World Cup's global scale, multi-match structure, length of time, and cultural
impact make it fundamentally different from other large-scale events like the Super
Bowl. As such, jurisdictions preparing to host World Cup matches face unique challenges
for emergency response and safety preparation that they need to start preparing for
today.
How Does the World Cup Differ from the Super Bowl?
-
Aspect: Scale & Duration
- World Cup: Multi-week across multiple cities and stadiums within the host country(ies)
- Super Bowl: Single-day event held in one stadium
-
Aspect: Audience
- World Cup: Diverse fans from all over the world
- Super Bowl: Primarily fans from the US
-
Aspect: Political & Cultural Tensions
- World Cup: Potential political and cultural tensions between participating countries
- Super Bowl: Local political issues or protests
-
Aspect: Infrastructure & Coordination
- World Cup: Collaboration between federal and local law enforcement, military, private security,
and international agencies
- Super Bowl: Collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies but concentrated in one city
-
Aspect: Technology & Surveillance
- World Cup: Advanced surveillance across a wide area, including drones, facial recognition systems,
and communication monitoring
- Super Bowl: Similar technologies but focused on a smaller area
-
Aspect: Crowd Control
- World Cup: Large crowds over multiple venues and cities, extensive planning for ingress and
egress, emergency response, and maintaining order among diverse fans
- Super Bowl: Concentrated around the stadium and related event areas; significant emphasis on
perimeter security, access control, and quick response teams
-
Aspect: Health & Safety
- World Cup: Concentrated on millions of visitors over a prolonged period, includes medical services,
disease prevention, and emergency healthcare
- Super Bowl: Concentrated in one location, focusing on immediate medical services, evacuation
plans, and emergency response
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