Overview
- The tournament is set to start on June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and will run across Mexico, the United States and Canada with 48 teams and 104 matches.
- A Recorded Future report published June 10 warns the World Cup is an attractive target for terrorists, hostile states, criminal groups and cybercriminals and identifies thousands of fake domains and past intrusions that raise the risk of large-scale fraud and espionage.
- Mexico has activated Plan Kukulkán, deploying roughly 100,000 National Guard, army and navy personnel after cartel-related violence tied to the February capture and death of CJNG leader El Mencho elevated security concerns in host cities.
- Several national delegations and officials have faced visa refusals, entry denials or prolonged extra screening on arrival to the United States, creating diplomatic friction and operational strain for team camps and match preparations.
- Weather and climate risks — heavy rains in Mexico, heat in U.S. host cities and the threat of wildfire smoke — threaten travel and match conditions, and FIFA says it has contingency plans while organizers monitor possible disruptions.