World Cup Security: Keep Your Eye on the Ball

Little can prepare security teams for the sheer noise, pyrotechnics, national pride, and fan enthusiasm around FIFA World Cup events, but in this episode of Security Management Highlights, we’ll give it a shot. First, Anton Kalaydjian shares how his experience on close protection details for celebrities and VIPs at World Cup events translated to a broader career in soccer security. Then, Efrén Vera Torres, CPP, explains how fraudsters take advantage of the World Cup and what that means for banking and finance institutions. And finally, Mason Wilder, CFE, research director for the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) shares some of the findings from the association’s latest occupational fraud report—not strictly about soccer, but a good reminder not to take your eye off the ball for insider threats. This episode is sponsored by public safety and security company SoundThinking. Gilbert Farrulla, director of customer success at SoundThinking, joins this episode to talk about growing tensions in security checkpoints. Additional Resources Learn more about this episode’s sponsor, SoundThinking, here: https://www.soundthinking.com/ Read more about World Cup security in Security Management’s content package here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/05/world-cup-security/ Focused on executive protection around World Cup matches and travel? Learn how to run an effective two-stage advance and build multiple contingency plans: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/05/world-cup-security/executive-protection-advance/ Fan culture and rivalries in global football are core factors in World Cup security. Hospitality personnel can play a key intelligence role to detect signs of trouble early. https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/05/world-cup-security/hospitality-awareness/ The World Cup could drive upwards of $41 billion in GDP this year. Fraudsters are already taking advantage of the tournament’s economic force to drive scams and counterfeit schemes. https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/05/world-cup-security/scam-economy/ ASIS members can join the Banking and Financial Services Community via ASIS Connects and view the recording of a May webinar about the potential impact of the World Cup on financial institutions: https://community.asisonline.org/viewdocument/workshop-fifa-world-cup-2026-the-potential-impact-on-financial-institutions?CommunityKey=4b4dfeed-1f93-4457-a265-ed282c53d03d&tab=librarydocuments Explore more findings from the ACFE Occupational Fraud 2026: A Report to the Nations in Security Management’s coverage: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/today-in-security/2026/may/fraud-prevention-background-checks/ Read the full ACFE Occupational Fraud 2026: A Report to the Nations here: https://www.acfe.com/fraud-resources/report-to-the-nations Learn more about white collar crime in SM’s content package from 2024: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2024/11/white-collar/