Fans at the 2026 World Cup will be under heavy biometric monitoring.
Stadiums across the United States, Canada and Mexico are installing a mix of facial‑recognition cameras, anti‑drone defenses and other sensors. The technology will scan faces at entrances, track movement inside venues and flag suspicious behavior in real time. Organisers say the systems are meant to deter threats and streamline ticket checks.
The rollout raises privacy concerns because the data will be collected by private firms and shared with law‑enforcement agencies. Critics argue that the sheer scale of monitoring could set a precedent for permanent surveillance at large public events.
For now, fans will have to decide whether the promised safety is worth the loss of anonymity in the stands.