The Bafana Bafana 26-man Fifa World Cup squad with President Cyril Ramaphosa.
WITH the FIFA World Cup kicking off on June 11, South African soccer fans, whether travelling to North America or watching from home, are being urged to take their digital safety as seriously as their match-day preparations.
This year’s tournament represents the largest entertainment cyberattack surface in history, and cybercriminals have already begun targeting fans.
The 2026 edition is the largest in FIFA history, spanning 39 days, 16 host cities and an estimated five to six million in-venue spectators. For South African fans making what is often a once-in-a-lifetime trip, the financial and personal consequences of falling victim to fraud could be severe.
The risk extends well beyond those in the stadiums, too. “South Africans are passionate soccer supporters, and many will have been planning and saving for this trip for years. But the fans watching from home are just as much in the crosshairs. Anywhere people are engaging digitally with this event, cybercriminals will be waiting,” warns Justin Lee, regional vice president for Sub-Saharan Africa at Palo Alto Networks.
