Is the FIFA World Cup safe from hacktivists?

The Men’s FIFA World Cup is built on spectacle. But in 2026, some of the most important action may happen off the pitch.As the tournament heads to North America, King’s Business School cyber security expert Dr Aybars Tuncdogan warns the World Cup could become a “temporary single point of failure” for cyber attacks, hacktivism and AI-driven misinformation.In this episode of Office Hours, we explore why global sporting events are increasingly attractive targets for state-linked actors and politically motivated hacktivist groups, how AI is changing both cyber attacks and cyber defence, and why the biggest risk may not just be disruption, but confusion and distrust at scale.We also unpack:How phishing, fake domains and DDoS attacks could target fans and infrastructureThe growing geopolitical dimension behind cyber activityWhy AI is lowering the barrier to entry for attackersWhat “ambidextrous cybersecurity” means in practiceWhy ticketing systems, broadcasters and stadiums create a complex network of vulnerabilities“The World Cup is a large spectacle. Everybody’s watching it. If you affect one system, you can have a wide-scale impact.” — Dr Aybars TuncdoganListen now to Is the FIFA World Cup safe from hacktivists?