The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup returns in June 2026. For the first time in history, hosting duties for the 48-team tournament will be shared across three nations – the United States, Canada and Mexico. With the world’s eyes upon them, preparations for the 16 hosting stadiums will begin months in advance.
In recent years, the security risks at mass events have become more prevalent. Past incidents in Houston and Santa Clara, and ongoing cybersecurity concerns have made the safety responsibilities facing the host cities extremely significant.
At Motorola Solutions, we’re accustomed to supporting some of the United States’ greatest sporting events. In 2023, when the Super Bowl took place in Glendale, Arizona, our technology was used to help execute the massive security operation, allowing 100,000 sports fans to enjoy the game without incident. Using our expertise, we’ll make six recommendations for FIFA 2026 stadiums to ensure they deliver seamless operations for fans and staff.
1) Crowd management and emergency planning
The combined attendance for all six World Cup games is expected to reach 5.5 million, with each game looking to attract in excess of 70,000 fans. When it comes to security and communication planning for the stadiums, there’s no such thing as being too prepared. Stadiums must predict where potential safety challenges lie before they occur, and should begin by implementing advanced crowd flow modeling and simulations. This involves using computational techniques and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to understand and predict how large numbers of people travel in groups. Imitating behavior, group dynamics and crowd movement provides valuable insights into the safety and efficiency of public spaces.
Multiple evacuation routes must also be created and tested through evacuation drills to determine their practicality. Leveraging real-time monitoring tools during these drills will help to detect potential risks in high-density crowds, whether that’s from a sudden surge of people or a bottleneck in a tight space.
2) Communication systems
Prompt and reliable technology is vital for supporting large events. Opt-in mass communication systems such as Rave Alert will allow stadiums to contact thousands of attendees simultaneously and immediately. At Virginia Beach’s Something in the Water festival, Rave Alert was used to share severe weather warnings, road closures and parking advisories with attendees. For delivering messages, playing music and making announcements, a clear and powerful Public Address (PA) system can also be used.
Staff and volunteers should be equipped with robust and reliable devices to allow them to maintain communication within the stadium, coordinate logistics and respond to incidents. Two-way radios are commonly used at large events as they provide ongoing connections despite congested cell phone traffic. Such devices must have an extensive battery life, be lightweight and easy to handle, and require minimal training for operation.
In terms of training, FIFA 2026 stadiums must ensure their staff and volunteers are sufficiently prepared to handle safety concerns and manage crowds calmly. Training should pre-empt a range of situations, providing everything from de-escalation techniques to be used in the event of anti-social behavior, to emergency procedures. Staff must feel confident in managing emergency plans, directing evacuations and liaising with emergency personnel.
Lastly, clear signage – which indicates essential information such as the location of restrooms, catering and exits – written in multiple languages can prevent confusion which can lead to crowd surges and panic.
3) Visitor monitoring and access control
Beyond merely capturing images, video security now gives event organizers the ability to make proactive decisions based on accurate, up-to-the-minute data. Powered by AI and analytics, video and access control solutions have several beneficial features, including the ability to search through large volumes of footage to find a single incident or item, and facial recognition software that allows you to quickly locate a person. This is extremely useful should a child go missing or an unattended item pose a security threat.
Additionally, technology can help event organizers manage ticketing fraud. Digital ticketing systems with built-in identity capabilities (such as fingerprint or facial recognition verification) confirm the ticket holder’s identity and can be used to store information about attendees. This can help mitigate a public health crisis or allow law enforcement to contact attendees.
Restricted areas within a stadium, such as VIP areas, press rooms and back-of-house zones can also be effectively managed through digital ticketing systems, with access assigned according to ticket type. The recognition capabilities within this software also serve to increase safety within the stadium, allowing crowds of people to pass through areas more quickly, reducing bottlenecks.
4) Health and wellbeing protocols
Stadiums are significant creators of air pollution owing to the energy required to host an event, the transportation they necessitate and the pollutants construction and maintenance release. Working in conjunction with video management software, sensors continuously monitor air quality, notifying personnel of any potentially dangerous changes. Small and discreet, the sensors detect fires, smoking and vaping, helping to create a safer, healthier environment for guests and staff.
FIFA 2026 stadiums must make several preparations to ensure they’re equipped to deliver emergency medical care. Providing staff with two-way radios that have built-in panic buttons means responders can be reached promptly. Crucially, using the device’s tracking functionality allows responders to then locate the incident quickly, among thousands of guests.
Multilingual first aiders who can provide medical assistance for minor issues should be installed and signposted across the stadium. Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) should also be accessible – a safety precaution which is mandated in many US states.
5) Collaboration with local authorities
Stadium personnel should establish direct lines of communication with police, emergency services and city officials before the World Cup. They should work in collaboration to establish a comprehensive plan to prioritize event safety, considering traffic management and how to keep disruptions to a minimum for residents and businesses. Risk assessments, conducted alongside city officials, should account for threats, including terrorism, crowd management strategies and major medical emergencies.
Organizers must stay aligned with local regulations, from crowd management to security clearance to mitigate any potential issues. This includes adhering to venue capacity rules, ensuring security personnel are fully trained and certified, and following emergency preparation plans.
Equipping personnel with two-way radios during the games will ensure direct lines of communication with first responders are maintained. A primary contact for first responders should be determined and all personnel should receive training on the devices.
6) Safety resources for fans and staff
Finally, communicating with fans during the game by clearly displaying evacuation routes, emergency contact numbers and no smoking signs – as well as using a mass communication system to send immediate information – will continue to maintain safety.
Supporting your stadium this World Cup season
From effective cybersecurity solutions to a range of devices, Motorola Solutions can help create safer experiences for your fans and your staff. Our ecosystem brings together the technologies and solutions you need to maintain effective event communication and management. Safety isn’t just about preventing disaster – it’s about building confidence. For fans, players, and partners alike, a stadium that’s prepared is a stadium that wins.
For help meeting the requirements of FIFA 2026, please reach out to one of our experts today.
