预计将吸引超过 500 万名球迷、在美国、加拿大和墨西哥的 16 个场馆举办的 2026 年 FIFA World Cup，正推动监控基础设施的大规模扩张。高度的安全疑虑正促使重大投资，包括美国国土安全部（DHS）针对无人机与反无人机技术的 1.15 亿美元计划，以及联邦紧急事务管理局（FEMA）向各主办地区发放的 2.5 亿美元补助金计划。Fortem Technologies、Sentrycs 和 Axon 等公司已获得数百万美元的合约，在多个场馆部署动力学和信号拦截反无人机系统，这引发了如 Jake Laperruque 等专家对于拦截手机数据的担忧。
人工智慧驱动的监控也在本届世界杯的安全运营中发挥核心作用。波士顿、迈阿密和亚特兰大的场馆正部署基于生物识别的人脸识别系统用于体育场入场和支付，而堪萨斯城已在当地巴士上试点该技术。此外，四只配备人工智慧的机器狗将在达拉斯和纽约新泽西地区的关键地点进行巡逻，墨西哥的 Monterrey 体育场也部署了类似的机器人单元。即时情报平台，包括 Lenovo 使用数位双生（digital twins）技术的智能指挥中心，以及 Booz Allen Hamilton 的 Sit(x) 情境感知平台，将整合无人机数据并追踪人员以进行人群管理。
在加拿大，多伦多引入了 1,250 万加元（约合 900 万美元）的警察指挥中心并为地铁站员工配备随身相机，而温哥华则安装了 200 台监控摄影机，这引发了地区隐私监管机构的警告。这种安全防范措施与卡达 2022 年高度军事化的世界杯相呼应，该届赛事涉及以 68 亿美元购买 24 架战斗机。包括 Ilia Siatitsa 和 Matthew Guariglia 在内的分析人士警告说，这些由主要承包商提供的国防级技术，正将体育赛事作为测试场地，并将永久留存为日常公共警务基础设施，从而威胁到公民自由。
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, expected to attract over 5 million fans across 16 venues in the US, Canada, and Mexico, is prompting a massive expansion of surveillance infrastructure. High security concerns are driving major investments, including a $115 million DHS initiative for drone and counter-drone technologies and a $250 million FEMA grant program distributed across host jurisdictions. Companies like Fortem Technologies, Sentrycs, and Axon have secured multi-million dollar contracts to deploy kinetic and signal-intercepting counter-drone systems at various venues, raising concerns from experts like Jake Laperruque regarding the interception of phone data.
AI-driven surveillance is also central to the tournament's security operations. Venues in Boston, Miami, and Atlanta are deploying biometric facial recognition systems for stadium entry and payments, while Kansas City has piloted it on local buses. Additionally, four AI-powered robotic dogs will patrol key sites in Dallas and the New York New Jersey area, and Monterrey Stadium in Mexico has deployed similar robotic units. Real-time intelligence platforms, including Lenovo's Intelligent Command Center using digital twins and Booz Allen Hamilton's Sit(x) situational awareness platform, will integrate drone data and track personnel to manage crowds.
In Canada, Toronto has introduced a CAD 12.5 million (approx. $9 million USD) police command center and subway body cameras, while Vancouver installed 200 surveillance cameras, prompting warnings from regional privacy watchdogs. This security build-up mirrors the heavily militarized 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which featured a $6.8 billion purchase of 24 fighter jets. Analysts, including Ilia Siatitsa and Matthew Guariglia, warn that these defense-grade technologies, such as those provided by major contractors, are using sporting events as testing grounds and will permanently remain as public policing infrastructure, threatening civil liberties.