by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 4:15 PM ET, Mon June 8, 2026
As World Cup events get underway across Canada, the United States and Mexico, a new report has identified what it calls “unprecedented security risks” for attendees.
Those risks range from extreme weather events driven by worsening climate change to terrorism, political protests, cyber attacks and general crime, according to Global Guardian's "2026 World Cup Security Report."
Of the three North American countries hosting World Cup events, which run from June 11 - July 19, it is the United States by far that appears to present the most risk across the board for attendees. General crime poses the most consistent threat in U.S. World Cup locations.
In particular, eight U.S. cities were identified as posing a “moderate” risk for crime (on a scale of low risk to extreme risk), while two were identified as a “medium” risk. Only one of the U.S. cities hosting World Cup events, Boston, was found to represent a “low” crime risk.
The two U.S. cities that present medium crime risks to World Cup attendees are Houston, Texas and Kansas City, Missouri.
“Opportunistic crime is the primary security risk to World Cup travelers across all host metro areas,” says the report. “These offenses are generally unplanned; criminals identify potential victims shortly before acting.”
Common examples, according to the report, include pickpocketing, bag-snatching, theft of unattended items and unsophisticated scams.
U.S. Poses More Risk For Terrorism Attacks Than Any Other Country
The U.S. was also found to have the most cities at risk for terrorist events. Boston, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia were all categorized as a “moderate” risk for this type of incident by the report. Atlanta, Kansas City, Miami, San Francisco, and Seattle were ranked low risks for terrorism.
By comparison, all of Mexico’s host cities were ranked as low risk for terrorism, and the Canadian host city of Toronto was found to be a moderate risk.
“The risk of terrorism typically increases during periods of elevated international conflict,” the report explains. The recent U.S. — Israel attack on Iran falls into this category, raising the risk for terrorism retaliation in the United States. In February, the Department of Homeland Security issued a nationwide high-alert warning following the Trump Administration’s war in Iran.
“A terrorist attack targeting a 2026 World Cup venue or Fan Festival is possible,” the report continues, adding that “a low-tech, lone-actor attack is the most likely attack.” The report also indicates that Iran-backed network attacks are also possible.
“Iran has demonstrated a pattern of plotting targeted killings on U.S. soil and facilitating terror attacks where and when it can,” the report explains.
“Should Operation Epic Fury [the Trump Administration’s name for its attack on Iran] continue through the course of the 2026 World Cup, the risk of an Iran-directed attack on a symbolic U.S. target increases. Conversely, if a durable agreement is reached, an Iran-directed attack would be less likely.”
U.S. Poses Greater Risk for Civil Unrest Than Any Other Country
Civil unrest is also a greater concern for World Cup attendees in the United States than in other countries, per the report. Here, the risk is said to be greatest in Los Angeles, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle, all of which are identified as “moderate” risk locations.
Cities deemed to be a low risk for this kind of activity include Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City and Miami. Civil unrest has increased significantly in the United States since Donald Trump returned to office for a second term.
Two cities in Mexico, Guadalajara and Mexico City, were also identified in the report as moderate risks for civil unrest.
“Global Guardian assesses that protest and activism risks are higher in the U.S. and Mexican metro areas than in Canada, whose current political dynamics are less conducive to…nationally organized high-visibility disruption,” says the report.
The largest World Cup in history, the tournament opens in Mexico City and concludes in New Jersey. The United States is set to host a total of 78 matches across 11 metro areas, while Mexico will host 13 matches across three cities, and Canada will host 13 matches across two cities.
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