As millions head to North America for the biggest World Cup in history, concerns are growing over crime, security fears and risks around some host cities where supporters may need to watch far more than the football.
The 2026 World Cup will span three countries, 16 cities and 104 matches, stretching police and security agencies across an entire continent. ‘ Officials have already warned of major challenges, with the FBI staging large-scale exercises ahead of the competition and counter-terror experts raising fears over “soft target” vulnerabilities around transport hubs, nightlife districts and packed fan zones.
The ongoing Iran conflict, fears around lone-wolf extremists and pressure on federal resources have only intensified concerns. But for many supporters, the biggest dangers may be more ordinary: pickpocketing, muggings, scams, car thefts and violent crime in unfamiliar neighbourhoods.
Several host cities already struggle with high crime rates, particularly in areas surrounding nightlife districts expected to be packed deep into the night during the tournament. The venues themselves vary dramatically. Some are heavily controlled suburban stadium complexes surrounded by motorways and security barriers. Others sit in dense urban areas battling poverty, homelessness and long-running violent crime problems.
Using the City Safety Index, FBI crime figures and expert security assessments, here are seven of the most important World Cup stadiums where football history will be made and where fans may need to keep far more than just their tickets safe.
METLIFE STADIUM, NEW JERSEY The Final Frontier: At a price
Location: East Rutherford, New Jersey – ten miles from Manhattan | Capacity: 78,576 | City Safety Index: 48.8 | Violent crimes per 100,000: 112.95 – lowest of all US host cities. Matches: eight, including the World Cup Final, July 19
If the World Cup final is football’s ultimate prize, getting there may feel like a mugging. East Rutherford’s violent crime figures are remarkably low by US standards, and the stadium complex is used to handling giant NFL crowds and Super Bowls. The real outrage here is transport. Rail fares from Manhattan initially rocketed to £118 return for an 18-mile journey before public fury forced a reduction to £82. Even then, supporters called it extortionate. Manhattan itself is safer than many expect. Murders fell 20 per cent last year, and shootings hit historic lows. But packed transport hubs around Penn Station remain prime territory for phone theft, pickpocketing and scams targeting tourists. England plays Panama at MetLife Stadium on June 27.
ESTADIO AZTECA, MEXICO CITY The World Cup Legend and the risk
Location: Tlalpan borough, southern Mexico City | Capacity: 72,766 | City Safety Index: 33.2 – most dangerous host city. Matches: five, including the opening ceremony, June 11
Pelé won here. Maradona stunned England here. And next month, the Azteca again becomes the centre of the football world. It also sits in the tournament’s most dangerous host city. Mexico City’s sprawling metro system is plagued by theft and overcrowding, while the stadium’s surrounding Tlalpan district struggles with street crime and poor transport infrastructure. The atmosphere will be ferocious, especially with Mexico opening the tournament there, but the risks outside the ground are significant. Security experts have warned that crowded stations and fan areas create ideal conditions for theft and disorder. Few venues carry more football magic. Few require more caution getting in and out of them.
AT&T STADIUM, DALLAS The Cathedral of American Sport
Location: Arlington, Texas | Capacity: 70,122 – most matches of any venue | City Safety Index: 48.3 | Violent crimes per 100,000: 482.94 | Matches: nine, including two semi-finals
England begin their tournament in a stadium locals call “The Death Star” – a billion-pound sporting complex for giant crowds and giant spectacle. But outside the air-conditioned comfort lies another issue entirely: Texas heat, combined with long distances and heavy traffic. Arlington’s crime levels sit mid-table among US host cities, but the bigger concern is the sprawling motorways around the ground. Fans face long walks through vast car parks in temperatures regularly climbing beyond 38C. The area around the stadium is relatively well controlled thanks to nearby restaurants, bars, and entertainment complexes. Yet overcrowded roads, isolated parking areas and extreme heat create risks European supporters are unlikely to be used to.
ARROWHEAD STADIUM, KANSAS CITY The Loudest and Most Dangerous
Location: Sports Complex district, Kansas City, Missouri | Capacity: 76,416 | City Safety Index: 41.4 | Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,547.11. The highest of all US host cities. Matches: six, including a quarter-final
This stadium holds the world record for crowd noise. It also sits in the most violent host city in America. Kansas City records more than 1,500 violent crimes per 100,000 people – more than triple Houston’s figure and vastly higher than New York or Boston. The stadium itself is relatively secure, isolated inside a giant sports complex surrounded by highways and parking lots. But beyond that bubble, the city’s crime problems remain severe. Argentina, Algeria and Austria will all play here, bringing huge travelling support into a city where the overall odds of becoming a crime victim stand at roughly one in 16. The football will be deafening. The wider crime figures could be louder still.
GILLETTE STADIUM, BOSTON Safe, but bring your credit card
Location: Foxborough, Massachusetts – 25 miles south of Boston | Capacity: 63,815 | City Safety Index: 60.1 – safest host city | Violent crimes per 100,000: 282.02 | Matches: seven, including a quarter-final
England and Scotland fans heading to Boston will be travelling to the safest World Cup host city. Foxborough recorded zero homicides last year and regularly ranks among the safest NFL venues in America. The stadium sits inside the polished Patriot Place entertainment complex, packed with bars, hotels and restaurants. The biggest shock here is cost. Transport prices have surged sharply ahead of the tournament, with some rail and bus tickets reaching four times normal prices despite the venue sitting just 25 miles outside Boston. Unlike some other host cities, violent crime around the ground is low. But fans will still face gridlocked roads, packed rail services, and rapidly rising accommodation prices as the tournament approaches.
MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM, ATLANTA Southern Discomfort
Location: Downtown Atlanta, Georgia | Capacity: 71,000 | City Safety Index: 35.8 – third most dangerous host city | Violent crimes per 100,000: 692.61 | Matches: eight, including a semi-final
Atlanta’s petal-roof stadium looks like something from science fiction. The surrounding neighbourhoods tell a rougher story. The ground sits close to English Avenue and Vine City, areas long associated with violent crime, poverty and gang activity. Atlanta records one of the highest violent crime rates of any host city. Spain and Cameroon will both play there before the semi-final arrives in July. Police presence around the stadium is expected to be enormous, but security experts warn that supporters who wander beyond the heavily patrolled perimeter could quickly find themselves in unfamiliar, unsafe territory.
HARD ROCK STADIUM, MIAMI Paradise with Precautions
Location: Miami Gardens, Florida – 15 miles north of downtown Miami | Capacity: 65,000+ | City Safety Index: 46.7 | Violent crimes per 100,000: 414.61 | Matches: seven, including a quarter-final and the third-place play-off
This is the World Cup everyone imagines: palm trees, beaches, cocktails and Brazil fans dancing in the Florida heat. But Miami Gardens carries crime rates far higher than the glamorous tourist images suggest. The stadium itself is experienced in handling massive events, including multiple Super Bowls, yet the surrounding area has long struggled with robbery, theft and violent crime. Late-night journeys through unfamiliar districts carry genuine risks, especially as packed fan zones spill out long after matches finish. And then there is the heat. Temperatures regularly stay above 35C into the evening, creating serious dehydration risks for supporters already drinking heavily in packed outdoor areas. The backdrop may look like paradise. The reality demands caution.
