Document Type

Report

Publication Date

9-2026

Abstract

Sporting mega-events like the 2026 World Cup present a unique challenge for public safety planning, due to the potential high risk for threats such as terrorism, targeted violence, and crime. Safety and security at such events are often the subject of public and media attention, and the dynamic nature of public perceptions of risk and safety concerns may provide valuable information for understanding event experience and security measures. To better understand how mega-events like the World Cup are anticipated and experienced by members of the public, we conducted a national panel survey at two key points: before and after the 2026 World Cup.

This report is intended to provide empirical information for event organizers and security professionals regarding public perceptions of risk and safety surrounding large-scale events. Results provide evidence that successful tournament hosting raises public confidence in personal safety and further suggest that media communications about event updates and the global threat landscape shape people’s event-related risk calculus.

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