With 48 nations, 104 matches, and over 5 million fans heading to North America, the 2026 FIFA World Cup security operation is officially the biggest in sporting history. Photo: AFP
The 2026 Fifa World Cup will be the biggest footballing event ever staged, featuring 48 teams, 104 matches and millions of supporters travelling across the US, Canada and Mexico.
With such a massive footprint comes an equally enormous security operation. Fifa and the host nations have developed a "trilateral security framework" designed to protect players, officials and an expected five to six million fans during the month-long tournament. Fifa have also committed $625 million (about R11.45 billion) in additional security funding for host cities, much of it administered through American state departments.
At the centre of the operation is the International Police Cooperation Center (IPCC), located near Washington DC.
The facility acts as the intelligence nerve centre for the tournament, bringing together law enforcement representatives from participating nations to monitor threats in and around the World Cup. A dedicated airspace security team is also overseeing counter-drone operations throughout the tournament.
