Is Your Police Department Ready World Cup 2026?

By Chief  Jeff Halstead, (Ret) Chief of Police, Fort Worth, TX

Key Takeaways:

World Cup 2026 will be a multi-week, multi-agency operation on a scale comparable to national disaster response, requiring unified command and real-time coordination across jurisdictions.
Traditional tools like sirens, static signage, and radios won’t be enough. Agencies need modern, scalable communication platforms (like CONNECT) and crowd control solutions (like LRAD).
Preparedness isn’t just tactical, it’s technological. Departments that wait to modernize comms will be overwhelmed. Those that plan ahead with secure, compliant tools will maintain control and reduce legal and operational risk.

In 2026, the World Cup lands in the U.S. It’s the largest sporting event in the world. Over 5 million fans. 48 teams. 16 host cities. All eyes are on us.

For law enforcement, this is more than just another special event. It’s a multi-week, multi-jurisdictional operation. The scale rivals a national disaster response. Command staff will need total situational awareness. Field officers will need clear direction. Everyone, from patrol to command, will need tools that hold up under pressure.

Multiple Agencies, One Command Strategy

I’ve worked major events, like 2 Super Bowls, College Football Championships, Final Four games, and an NBA All Star game. The energy and unpredictability hits fast and hard. World Cup crowds bring flags, chants, and sometimes uncontrolled energy. Many fans won’t speak English. Some won’t follow local norms. When tensions rise, small misunderstandings can turn into major incidents. Add to all of these high-profile events, the prime opportunity for many organized protest groups, agitators, Antifa, and politically motivated activists that will mobilize to seriously disrupt your event…gaining them national or global attention to their cause.

With so much attention and potential threats, clear and timely communication is how agencies will remain fully prepared for anything.

When addressing large crowds, sirens, outdated PAs, and static signage won’t cut it. You need tools that cut through noise and cross language barriers. Beyond external comms, you need the ability to coordinate quickly and react to unexpected situations. That’s why I trust what Genasys brings to the table.

Two Tools, One Mission: Public Safety

Genasys CONNECT is built for complex, multi-agency operations. We originally designed it for law enforcement and 8 years later, we support all public safety agencies, government, and private sector companies. During an event the size of the World Cup, coordination is everything. CONNECT will enable you to communicate securely and in real-time across agencies, jurisdictions, and command levels.

Use it to manage the expected, (fan traffic, access control, perimeter security), and to react quickly when things shift (crowd surges, rising tensions, or unauthorized protests). This includes any act of violence like a bombing, active shooter, or terroristic threat.

Instantly create encrypted chat rooms for law enforcement, EMS, stadium ops, critical stakeholders, and all local or elected officials. Everyone stays looped in, no matter their agency. No more juggling radios, phones, or unauthorized group chats.

As a cloud-based platform that is legally compliant, CONNECT can be fully deployed in just a couple of hours; no new hardware or overhauls are needed. Individual access takes about 30 seconds and has controlled, encrypted access. Every message leaves a full audit trail to help agencies meet compliance requirements and reduce legal risks posed by unauthorized apps like Signal or WhatsApp.

Genasys LRAD is purpose-built for controlling crowds and restoring order. When the crowd gets loud, traditional PA systems fail. You need commands that cut through the noise, outside stadiums, in parking lots, inside vehicles, and during mobile operations.

LRADs broadcast clear, intelligible voice messages across long distances. Whether mounted on a vehicle, fixed at a choke point, or airborne on a helicopter, LRAD helps officers issue dispersal orders, directional instructions, or emergency updates without escalation of force.

I’ve seen LRADs used during protests and high-stress crowd events around the world. They work. Not just to project authority, but to reduce escalation. Clarity calms crowds. That’s how you keep things from spiraling.

Use LRAD to establish lawful presence, direct movement, and de-escalate volatile situations, before force becomes necessary.

Crowd Control Starts Before the Crowd Forms

Let’s be honest, we know the World Cup attracts more than fans. It brings protest groups, threat actors, and opportunists. With global media on-site, politically motivated demonstrators will see this as their moment.

Spontaneous gatherings can escalate fast. That’s why law enforcement needs early warning and rapid response capabilities. CONNECT helps you track emerging threats, push out dispersal orders, and coordinate unified messaging.

And when it’s time to direct or disperse crowds, LRAD gives you a decisive edge.

Use it to issue lawful orders, direct foot traffic, or isolate bad actors, without resorting to force.

Unified Command. Seamless Comms. Real Results.

This isn’t about controlling fans, it’s about protecting them and keeping your team safe by having them maintain control throughout a high-stakes event.

You already know the tactics. You’ve trained for MCI scenarios, ICS protocols, and large-scale deployments. But if your comms break down, everything else falls apart.

With CONNECT and LRAD, you ensure that doesn’t happen.

You maintain control. You reduce confusion. You save lives.