When global tensions rise, major event security must stay one step ahead

Large sporting events have always symbolised something powerful: openness, celebration, and global connection. Millions of people gather in stadiums and public spaces to share a moment of collective excitement.

But the very scale that makes these events so special also requires careful preparation behind the scenes.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest in history. Spanning three countries, 48 teams, and 16 host cities. It introduces a new level of operational complexity and, with the current geopolitical landscape, a new level of scrutiny on how security is planned and delivered.

Recent reporting has highlighted how extremist groups continue to reference major international events such as the FIFA World Cup when calling for attacks on Western targets. Security experts have raised concerns that large gatherings and iconic venues have long been used in extremist propaganda because of the global attention they attract.

It’s also no surprise to see that Formula 1 has cancelled races in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and UEFA has postponed the Finalissima between Argentina and Spain, set to be played in Qatar later this month, citing ongoing global security concerns.

The impact of these decisions carries a significant financial and operational impact for both organisers and host nations, and it puts a spotlight on security and how to ensure safety at all future major events.

But rather than introducing new concerns, it has reinforced an existing truth: that major event security is not static; it must constantly adapt.

Major event security must be top of the agenda

Those responsible for stadiums, tournaments, and public events are once again reviewing the resilience of their security frameworks as a new level of scrutiny is put on how security is planned and delivered for major events.

This, of course, is not new information for many of the clients we work with.

Security professionals have always understood that major events require a layered approach to protection. They know that preparation is continuous, risk is always evolving, and therefore security must evolve with it.

Within that layered approach, some of the most critical controls are not even visible to the public.

They sit behind the scenes, embedded in how access is managed, how trust is established, and how organisations maintain oversight of the thousands of individuals operating inside the perimeter.

Security starts with knowing who is trusted

Before a single fan enters a venue, it’s critical that a complex ecosystem is already in motion. Staff, contractors, media, suppliers, volunteers, and security personnel all require access to deliver the event. This workforce is essential, but it also represents the largest and most dynamic access group to manage.

And this is where the nature of security has shifted.

The challenge is no longer just about keeping threats out. It is about maintaining a clear, real-time understanding of who is trusted within the event environment and why.

This is where accreditation comes in. Historically, accreditation was often treated as an administrative function. A process for issuing passes, managing lists, and facilitating entry.

Today, it is increasingly recognised as something far more strategic and sophisticated. In live event environments, and on a daily basis, trust needs to be established, verified, and continuously understood and not assumed.

I’m seeing this shift driving a broader evolution in how security technology is used.

Increased adoption of systems that integrate identity verification, background screening, and document validation into a single, structured process is key to this. Capabilities such as automated document checks, optical character recognition (OCR)-based validation, and quality assurance workflows are helping reduce reliance on manual review and improving consistency at scale.

But the real value is not in the technology itself. It is in what it enables.

When these capabilities are embedded into operational workflows, they provide something organisations have always needed but rarely had at scale: control.

Having control over who has access, why that access has been granted and whether it should still be valid, is key to ensuring a safe and secure environment.

This is what allows organisations to move from reactive to proactive control, having total control from everyday operations to peak event days.

How to gain confidence and control

Security at major events has never been about a single system or solution.

It’s all about the preparation. It’s the result of meticulous coordination between multiple layers. From venue operations, including caterers, contractors, media to VIPs, and players, to turnstiles, badging and accreditation technology. They need to work seamlessly together.

One principle remains constant: you cannot secure what you cannot see.

Understanding who is accredited, why they are present, and what access they hold provides a foundation for effective decision-making, and it allows teams to respond faster, operate with greater confidence, and maintain control in complex, fast-moving environments.

There is no margin for ambiguity. Every individual with access must be accounted for, decisions must be traceable, and the system must support both operational efficiency and security assurance, combining these complex layers together for greater visibility.

Ultimately, that is what enables major events to do what they are meant to do, bringing people together safely.

Proven in complex, high-security environments

Accreditation may not be visible to the fans in the stands, but it is one of the foundations that allows everything else to work.

We work on some of the most high-profile, high-security events and venues, from national ceremonies to global sporting tournaments and major public visits. These operations require the coordination of tens of thousands of accredited individuals across multiple venues, agencies, and jurisdictions.

When it’s done right, accreditation provides complete control and allows confidence and trust in the events. It leaves the fans to focus on one thing: sharing a moment of collective excitement and celebration.

The organisations that manage this successfully are operating with a clear, unified understanding of trust across their environment.

Further resources:

Download our free guide: The ultimate guide to event accreditation