The World Cup Is Over: What the Next U.S. Mega Events Mean for Your Business

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has concluded across the United States, Canada and Mexico, but the security picture has not. Sentinel assesses that the threat environment around large public events will stay elevated as the U.S. looks ahead to soccer at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup. The United States, together with Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica, is the only bidder for the 2031 tournament, and FIFA is expected to formally confirm the hosts soon. Violent incidents at these events remain unlikely, but disruption, targeted threats and opportunistic crime are likely. For businesses, four areas carry the most exposure, and each calls for intelligence and protective services working together.

1. Host city operations and venue districts

Stadiums, fan zones and transit hubs, whether in Los Angeles in 2028 or across the 2031 host cities, concentrate crowds and draw protests, hoax threats and drone activity. Offices, hotels and retail near venues can face road closures, credential checkpoints, lockdowns and sudden loss of access for staff and deliveries.

• Identify facilities near venues, fan zones and major transit routes in host cities.

• Build flexible work and shift plans for event days, and review evacuation procedures.

• Liaison with local authorities for real time alerts on closures and threats.

How Sentinel helps:Our Event Risk Assessment and Physical Security Risk Assessments evaluate venues, offices and routes ahead of event windows, while Event Security and Threat Monitoring pairs advance planning and on site security with real time intelligence. Embedded or surge Intelligence Analysts add capacity during peak periods.

2. Executives, hospitality and traveling staff

Corporate hospitality and client entertainment put executives in public, predictable settings. Executives face a HIGH threat of targeted approaches, surveillance and doxing, especially when travel plans and event appearances are shared online.

• Conduct advance work on venues, routes and hospitality sites before executive attendance.

• Limit real time posting of itineraries and event appearances.

• Deliver travel risk briefings and vet third party drivers, security and vendors.

How Sentinel helps:Our Executive and Residential Protection teams provide discreet protective coverage, supported by Travel Risk Assessments and Secure Transport and Travel Logistics. Sentinel Trace and Erase removes personal data from public sources to reduce doxing exposure.

3. Sponsors, brands and the digital front

Sponsors and event technology providers face a MEDIUM to HIGH threat of phishing, ticket fraud, brand impersonation and hacktivism. Major events consistently draw scams and online harassment aimed at the companies attached to them.

• Monitor for spoofed domains, fake ticket offers and impersonation of your brand.

• Brief employees on event themed phishing before and during campaigns.

• Keep monitoring through the closing ceremonies, not just opening day.

How Sentinel helps:Our Threat Monitoring, Dark Web Monitoring and Reputational Risk Exposure Assessment surface fraud, impersonation and targeting early, and the Crisis Management and Executive Readiness team can build playbooks and run simulations before an incident.

4. Teams, players and their families

High profile athletes, coaches and club staff are visible, predictable and easy to find online. Players and their families face a HIGH threat of online harassment, doxing and approaches by fixated individuals, particularly around match days, results and travel.

• Assess the digital footprints of players, coaches and families, and reduce publicly available personal information.

• Plan secure arrival, hotel, training site and match day movement, with backup routes.

• Monitor for threats and abusive content tied to results, transfers and public appearances.

• Set a clear escalation process for concerning behavior directed at players and staff.

How Sentinel helps:Our Behavioral Threat Assessment identifies who is behind a threat and their intent and capability. Online Risk Assessment and Sentinel Trace and Erase reduce a player's digital exposure, and Executive and Residential Protection covers principals, families and homes. Event Security and Threat Monitoring and Secure Transport support match days and team travel, and BTAMT Development helps clubs build a team to manage concerning behavior before it escalates.

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are less than two years away, and a U.S. hosted Women's World Cup could follow in 2031. The lessons from this summer apply now, and organizations that build their protective programs early will be better positioned when the spotlight returns. Sentinel Overwatch gives organizations, including clubs and sports organizations, on demand security leadership to build that program, and our Emerging Threats Bulletin and Executive Intelligence Brief keep leaders informed as the threat picture shifts. To discuss your needs, reach out to the Sentinel team at Info@Sentinel.security