The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be one of the largest global sporting events in history, hosted across 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With tens of millions expected to engage both physically and digitally, the tournament also presents a vast attack surface for cybercriminals.
Early evidence suggests that malicious actors are already positioning themselves to exploit fans through digital fraud. Researchers at PreCrime Labs have identified nearly 500 suspicious domains that incorporate keywords such as “fifa,” “worldcup,” and “football.” These mimic legitimate branding, targeting users through phishing links, fake merchandise portals, and fraudulent ticketing services.
One concerning trend is the early registration of these domains, which allows them to age undetected and establish search engine credibility. These domains, sometimes active months before major ticketing phases, are difficult to trace and can deceive even cautious users. The scale and strategy behind these operations indicate not opportunism, but a well-organized digital infrastructure built for exploitation. As engagement with official FIFA platforms increases, so does the likelihood of redirection to malicious counterparts if these threats are not proactively mitigated.
Structural and financial gaps in security preparation
Congressional approval in early 2025 of $625 million for physical security in the U.S. host cities underscores a clear focus on counterterrorism and venue safety. Additional appropriations include $500 million for drone defense and another $1 billion tied to Olympic security planning. However, cybersecurity remains relatively underfunded within this broader framework. While physical threats merit extensive preparation, the underinvestment in fan-facing digital infrastructure risks creating blind spots in overall tournament security.
Legacy vulnerabilities from past tournaments
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar offers a relevant benchmark. Despite substantial government investment, cyber fraud increased significantly during the tournament. Counterfeit hotel sites, counterfeit tickets, and counterfeit phishing websites plagued fans showing that even at high levels of national investment in cybersecurity, the coordination of activities at the international level and enforcement of domains are lagging. The regulation complexity may also further fragment response coordination with 2026 across three countries.
Financial networks and local governments have recognized digital risks associated with higher levels of transactions. Millions of fans are projected to be staying at hotels, flying, and purchasing game tickets and therefore the infrastructure needs to be hardened against fraud and data compromise. In the absence of proactive domain policing and global takedown procedures, the system is still vulnerable to familiar tricks that have been perfected in other world cups.
Cybersecurity risks beyond the stadium walls
There is a lot of complexity in trying to coordinate security in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The U.S. will serve 77 of 104 matches in total, with coordination among federal departments, local law enforcement, contracted individuals and international organizations to do so. Such complexity has historically impaired real-time threat response. This was the last of the 2024 Copas America, this information sharing has shown that there can still be some loopholes in it which need to be filled by making sure that the agencies are already inoculated with communication models.
Unlike physical threats, cyber threats are not limited to matchday or by geographic location. Before the first whistle is blown, phishing and domain spoofing can be used to threaten fans around the world without any warning. These attacks usually exploit the vulnerabilities in ticketing services, event applications and money transfer online services. Without coordinated monitoring of threats and immediate-response actions, cyber-attacks will be ahead of security and destroy the trust of fans.
Security classifications and cyber priorities
Matches of high national interest are designated SEAR 1 events by the Department of Homeland Security, prioritizing physical security and anti-terror response. Yet this designation does not automatically allocate equivalent urgency or funding to cybersecurity initiatives. As attackers refine their tactics—from digital identity theft to payment system skimming—the absence of robust digital countermeasures risks undermining the broader security operation.
FIFA’s public security posture and its limitations
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said that fostering the safety and comfort of the fans is a fundamental institutional challenge. FIFA has established safety measures within stadiums, and has established forums like FIFA Safety and Security Learning Platform to empower those in charge of their events. But such efforts place a heavy focus on crowd control, emergency response, and physical infrastructure-areas FIFA has a deep history of experience.
In comparison, digital security is a poorly developed aspect of FIFA planning. Official statements and documentation of the organization are not specific to cybersecurity enforcement, domain fraud prevention, and data protection requirements in third-party vendors and platforms. These gaps are more consequential the more digital engagement with the tournament is achieved via apps, QR code tickets, and social media campaigns.
The human and economic cost of inadequate cybersecurity
The World Cup engages the average fan online at various points of contact, such as purchasing tickets online, booking hotel rooms, or streaming online, all of which are susceptible to attack. Scams that look just like the official site may collect personal information, financial information, and even biometrics. The victims not only lose money, they also suffer identity theft and misuse of credit cards. It is expensive both emotionally and financially, even in situations where foreign travelers are the ones who are left with no option but to use complicated platforms.
Institutional pressure on financial services
Financial institutions are gearing towards a steep rise in cross-border transactions and the corresponding rise in fraud attempts. Fraud detection models and geolocation-based security measures are being created by banks and payment processors in real time. They however indicate that over time, the implementation of the policy and the intelligence collaborate to offer systemic protection to the organizers and government agencies. Since cybersecurity is now emerging as the basis of consumer trust, a single big breach might undermine the trustworthiness of the whole tournament ecosystem.
Ongoing threats and the need for proactive mitigation
Security task forces across host cities are engaging in simulation exercises and scenario planning. In Kansas City, one of the US host locations, the appointment of a former U.S. Secret Service agent as Director of Safety and Security reflects growing awareness of hybrid threats. These professionals bring cross-domain expertise, combining physical threat mitigation with cyber threat preparedness.
Despite such efforts, cybercriminals continue to lay groundwork. Phishing infrastructure, fake social media accounts, and malicious websites persist online. Public education on digital hygiene, such as avoiding unofficial links and verifying domain origins, remains minimal. The lack of an international public awareness campaign coordinated by FIFA or its digital partners has left a significant void in proactive prevention.
This person has spoken on the topic, highlighting the ongoing proliferation of malicious domains and urging greater enforcement action by FIFA and its affiliates to neutralize cyber threats before the tournament begins:
Hackers Register Domains to Target 2026 FIFA World Cup in Cyberattackhttps://t.co/3FE0S9Z20U#Infosec #Security #Cybersecurity #CeptBiro #HackersRegisterDomains #FIFAWorldCup #Cyberattack
— Rene Robichaud (@ReneRobichaud) September 1, 2025
As 2026 approaches, the digital threats surrounding the World Cup deepen in scale and complexity. While security frameworks for physical infrastructure are maturing, digital infrastructure demands equivalent urgency. The global stage of the World Cup means that any failure in fan protection reverberates far beyond match results. A secure digital environment is no longer a supporting component—it is foundational to the success, trust, and inclusivity of the tournament.
