Legions of security officers and police are being deployed for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as organisers prepare for what officials describe as an unprecedented security challenge to protect fans, players and venues across North America.
Security measures were already visible during a send-off match in Chicago, where the U.S. faced Germany.
Fans encountered a heavy police presence, with municipal vehicles forming protective barriers around the stadium and strict screening procedures in place before entry.
One of the major concerns surrounding the tournament is the broader geopolitical climate, particularly ongoing tensions linked to the U.S.-Iran conflict, which security analysts say have heightened threat perceptions.
Security experts say the most difficult challenge will not be securing the stadiums themselves, but protecting so-called "soft targets" such as car parks, restaurants and fan gathering areas around match venues.
Former Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent Richard Kolko said stadiums are easier to defend because of controlled access and visible security infrastructure.
Authorities also plan to deploy anti-drone systems around stadiums.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has warned that drones remain one of the biggest security threats to large-scale sporting events.
With matches taking place across 16 cities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, the 2026 World Cup will be the most geographically dispersed tournament in football history.
The total security operation is expected to cost more than $1 billion, involving federal agencies, local police forces and private security firms.
A Kyiv-Warsaw train was struck near the Polish border, Ukraine's state railway firm said on Sunday. No passengers were injured. Ukrai...
Maritime trackers received new reports of an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to the ...
Indonesian rescuers are searching for 130 people after a passenger ship carrying 243 people sank in the Java Sea following bad weather, while 113 p...
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in New Delhi on Friday to attend the weekend BRICS summit, amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, joining a host of foreign dignitaries.
Maritime trackers received new reports of an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), adding to concerns about energy supplies after Saudi Arabia shut down a vital oil pipeline on Saturday.
A Kyiv-Warsaw train was struck near the Polish border, Ukraine's state railway firm said on Sunday. No passengers were injured. Ukrainian Railways said that the country's railways were facing systematic attacks for a second day and warned of widespread delays.
Saudi Arabia has temporarily shut down its 1,200-kilometre East-West oil pipeline after it was hit by a drone attack, with Riyadh and Baghdad saying the strike originated from Iraq.
Dubai’s property market has spent years climbing. Now, for the first time since 2021, prices are moving in the opposite direction.
A Kyiv-Warsaw train was struck near the Polish border, Ukraine's state railway firm said on Sunday. No passengers were injured. Ukrainian Railways said that the country's railways were facing systematic attacks for a second day and warned of widespread delays.
Indonesian rescuers are searching for 130 people after a passenger ship carrying 243 people sank in the Java Sea following bad weather, while 113 people have been evacuated and six have died, the country’s search and rescue agency said on Sunday.
China will lead the creation of an open source platform among BRICS members to promote cooperation on large language models, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Sunday.
Swedes vote in an election on Sunday (13 September) that could see the far-right enter government for the first time if the country's right-wing parties can form a majority.
Philippine rescuers recovered 41 more charred remains from a ferry fire on Saturday (12 September), taking the death toll to 76, while 13 people remained unaccounted for as forensic teams worked to identify the victims.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment