World Cup 2026: Gearing Up for Cyber Threats

The 2022 FIFA World Cup offers Qatar a significant opportunity to enhance its economic, social, and international standing. To ensure the event meets and surpasses global standards, Qatar has invested heavily in various areas, including data privacy and security. I was able to observe closely all the world cup tournament and participated some of the cybersecurity drills. Here you can find my notes about the cyber threat preparation for the next world cup.

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, countries must adopt comprehensive cybersecurity strategies to protect against potential threats. Learning from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the following steps should be taken:

1. Develop a Dedicated Cybersecurity Framework

Create a specialized cybersecurity framework tailored to the unique challenges of hosting a large-scale international event. This framework should address data privacy, threat detection, response protocols, and incident management. Below you will see more details about the cybersecurity framework.

2. Collaboration with International Agencies

Engage with international cybersecurity organizations, such as Interpol, to benefit from their expertise and resources. Establish partnerships for sharing intelligence and best practices. This is the key point, in terms of responding cyber attacks.

3. Strengthen National Cybersecurity Infrastructure

Invest in enhancing national cybersecurity infrastructure, including:

• Threat Intelligence Centers: Establish centers to monitor, detect, and respond to cyber threats in real-time.
• Automated Monitoring Systems: Implement automated systems for continuous monitoring of networks and critical systems.
• Malware Analysis Labs: Develop labs to analyze and reverse-engineer malware to understand and mitigate threats effectively.

4. Conduct Regular Cybersecurity Drills

Organize annual cybersecurity drills to test the readiness of governmental and non-governmental entities. These drills should simulate various cyber attack scenarios to evaluate defense, resilience, and incident response capabilities.

5. Implement International Standards

Ensure cybersecurity measures align with international standards such as ISO 27001, NIST SP 800–53, and GDPR. This alignment helps maintain a high level of security and facilitates collaboration with global partners.

6. Develop a Comprehensive Data Protection Strategy

Protect the personal data of millions of fans and participants by:

• Data Privacy Laws: Strengthen existing data privacy laws and regulations.
• Encryption and Access Controls: Implement strong encryption and access controls to safeguard sensitive information.
• Data Breach Response Plans: Develop and regularly update response plans for potential data breaches.

7. Public-Private Partnerships

Foster collaboration between public and private sectors to enhance cybersecurity efforts. Engage technology companies, cybersecurity firms, and other stakeholders in the planning and implementation process.

8. Awareness and Training Programs

Conduct extensive cybersecurity awareness and training programs for all personnel involved in the event. Ensure they understand the importance of cybersecurity and are equipped to handle potential threats.

9. Evaluate and Update Cybersecurity Policies

Continuously evaluate and update cybersecurity policies to address emerging threats and vulnerabilities. Use insights from previous events, including the 2022 World Cup, to refine strategies.

10. Emergency Response Teams

Establish dedicated emergency response teams to act swiftly in case of a cyber incident. These teams should be trained to manage and mitigate the impact of any cybersecurity breaches.

By implementing these measures, countries can better prepare for the cybersecurity challenges of hosting the 2026 World Cup, ensuring a safe and secure event for all participants and attendees.

Data Privacy and Security Initiatives

With millions of fans expected, protecting their data is crucial. Qatar, already equipped with its Personal Data Privacy Protection Law (PDPPL), introduced the FIFA 2022 World Cup Cybersecurity Framework specifically to address data-related challenges posed by the event.

Released in 2018 by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SCDL), the Cybersecurity Framework sets the standards for data protection that all World Cup participants must follow. SCDL is responsible for implementing the framework and ensuring the necessary digital infrastructure is in place for the 2022 World Cup.

Scope of the Cybersecurity Framework

The framework aims to develop and integrate essential cybersecurity capabilities across all organizations involved in the World Cup ecosystem. This ecosystem includes:

• Information Assets: Valuable data used and processed by World Cup services.
• Services: Essential activities and facilities provided to stakeholders.
• Entities: Organizations categorized under critical sectors contributing to the World Cup.

SCDL, alongside the government, will manage the event, ensuring a unified system of cybersecurity safeguards for all stakeholders. Entities providing services must implement these safeguards to mitigate risks. The framework emphasizes three fundamental pillars: prevention, detection, and response to data breaches and unauthorized data access or use.

Qatar’s Cybersecurity Efforts for the 2022 World Cup

Given the magnitude of hosting such a significant event for the first time, Qatar wisely sought external support for cybersecurity. The most notable assistance came from Interpol through Project Stadia.

Project Stadia

Project Stadia, a 10-year initiative by Interpol, focuses on securing major sporting events, with particular attention to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Funded by Qatar, this project convenes experts annually to discuss and enhance various aspects of cybersecurity. These discussions cover national cybersecurity capacities, risk management, IoT, and industrial control systems, resulting in comprehensive recommendations for protecting the country’s infrastructure during the event.

Internal Cybersecurity Resources

Internally, Qatar leveraged existing resources to bolster its cybersecurity. This included the already established Computer Emergency Response Team (Q-CERT), conducting annual cybersecurity drills, and creating a framework to guide critical organizations in implementing essential cyber defense mechanisms.

Q-CERT
Established in 2005 by the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon’s Software Engineering Institute, Q-CERT plays a crucial role in Qatar’s cybersecurity measures. Q-CERT is developing a threat intelligence center and a fully automated threat monitoring system to ensure timely identification and mitigation of cybersecurity threats to the government network. Additionally, Q-CERT is establishing a malware analysis lab to reverse engineer and analyze malware.

Cybersecurity Drills
To prepare for cyber attacks, Qatar has conducted annual cybersecurity drills since 2013. The 2022 drills were the largest, involving over 125 governmental and non-governmental entities and more than 1400 participants. These exercises aimed to assess and enhance the readiness of these entities to detect and respond to cyber threats.

Qatar 2022 Cybersecurity Framework

The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy released the Qatar 2022 Cybersecurity Framework, which outlines the core cyber-competencies and capabilities necessary to protect critical national services during the World Cup. Developed with input from government, civil society, and subject matter experts, the 425-page framework aligns with international standards like ISO 27001, NIST SP 800–53, PCI-DSS, and GDPR. It provides detailed controls for cybersecurity governance, endpoint, application, and network security, as well as specialized capabilities such as Operations Technology Security Monitoring, IoT, and Cloud Security. Entities involved in the World Cup ecosystem are expected to implement relevant capabilities from this framework.

Previos Cyber Threats at Sporting Events

The Global Landscape of Cyber Threats at Sporting Events:

The 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics opening ceremony disruption attributed to a cyberattack. (https://www.wsj.com/world/u-s-and-u-k-accuse-russia-of-global-hacking-spree-targeting-british-elections-17761803)
The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil where a cyberattack targeted the broadcaster’s network. (https://www.securityweek.com/category/cyberwarfare/page/193/)
Highlight the increasing sophistication and frequency of cyberattacks targeting major events.

Specific Cyber Threats to the 2026 World Cup:
Disruption: A cyberattack could disable critical ticketing systems, causing long queues and frustration for fans. Critical infrastructures, banks, government sites and tournament sites may be exposed to Ddos ​​attacks.
Financial Gain: Hackers might launch ransomware attacks on ticketing platforms, demanding payment to restore access.
Espionage: Nation-state actors could target team communications or internal systems to gain an advantage.
Government Action: A Collaborative Approach:

Elaborate on the different areas of government focus:
Information Sharing: Explain the importance of international cooperation between law enforcement agencies.
Infrastructure Security Assessments: Mention vulnerability assessments and penetration testing of critical systems.
Public Awareness Campaigns: Describe potential topics for educational campaigns aimed at fans and event staff.

Personal Notes

As a close observer of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, I can attest to the success of the event from a cybersecurity standpoint. Having watched the games, visited the stadiums, reviewed the cybersecurity frameworks, and participated in the cybsecurity drills, it was evident that meticulous planning and execution were paramount. The tournament showcased a comprehensive cybersecurity framework, robust collaboration with international bodies, advanced threat detection and response systems, and rigorous data protection measures. Regular cybersecurity drills and extensive training programs ensured readiness and resilience against potential cyber threats. The integration of international standards and the fostering of public-private partnerships further strengthened the cybersecurity posture. These practices and insights are invaluable for future hosts and key personnel, providing a blueprint for securing upcoming World Cup tournaments.

These experiences and practices offer a valuable guide for countries preparing to host future World Cup tournaments for 2026, highlighting the importance of thorough planning, international cooperation, and continuous improvement in cybersecurity measures.