As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, millions of fans are preparing to enjoy 'the beautiful game' in its ultimate form, according to a report by TechRadar. With 104 matches to be played in 16 different cities across 3 countries – the US, Canada and Mexico – this will be the biggest edition of the World Cup to date. Millions of tickets have reportedly been sold so far worldwide.
However, major international sporting events like the World Cup are easy targets for criminals looking to exploit a combination of increased spending, high volume of transactions, and reduced caution. Financial crime is expanding rapidly as AI increases the scale and rapid evolution of tactics, wrote Lenny Gusel, Head of Fraud Solutions for Feedzai in North America, in the article. The best way to counter new AI-powered threats is with an equally organized and layered defense, turning the table on scammers by using AI tools for financial crime prevention.
Understanding the Red Flags
The range of potential scams revolving around the World Cup is as vast and varied as the event itself. The World Cup scenario presents risks of both authorized and unauthorized frauds, according to TechRadar.
Authorized frauds are scams where customers are manipulated into voluntarily making payments or sending money, with criminals pretending to be legitimate institutions or retailers. These scams take advantage of financial organizations that are not monitoring these kinds of risks or lack the necessary safeguards.
Unauthorized frauds are connected to theft of information and credentials, resulting in payments made without the customers' knowledge or consent. Although it is possible to separate these two types of fraud, financial institutions should always remember that criminal organizations often operate across both simultaneously when considering prevention and intervention.
| Fraud Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Authorized fraud | Customer manipulated into voluntary payment | Ticket resale scams, fake accommodation bookings |
| Unauthorized fraud | Theft of credentials and information | Skimming at ATMs, phishing for card details |
More specifically related to the travel associated with attending the competition, even more so with this World Cup spread across the US, Canada and Mexico, is the geographical risk distinction. Financial institutions outside of host cities should watch out mostly for out-of-pattern online payments behavior, while banks in host cities should closely monitor in-person transactions such as cash withdrawals, transport, and accommodation expenses.
Protecting the Fans’ Journey
Customers themselves are the first line of defense against financial crime. It is their responsibility to pay attention, question things, and ensure they have basic security measures in place. However, they should also be able to confidently rely on their bank of choice to add layers of protection designed to match the strength of the attacks.
Customer trust is essential for financial security, and financial institutions across the globe have the opportunity to show they are worthy of it by shielding fans from the types of scams most likely to target them at the World Cup. Ticket resale scams are one of the primary threats, where fraudsters pose as legitimate sellers on secondary market platforms or even set up fake websites to trick consumers seeking tickets to sold-out or high-demand matches.
For finance executives and treasury professionals, the implications are clear: banks must invest in AI-driven fraud detection systems that can analyze transaction patterns in real time, flagging anomalous behavior such as sudden large cash withdrawals in host cities or unusual online purchases from non-host regions. Additionally, cross-border coordination between financial institutions in the three host countries – the US, Canada and Mexico – is essential to track and prevent the movement of illicit funds linked to human trafficking or other financial crimes associated with large events.
"In my experience, the best way to counter new AI-powered threats is with an equally organized and layered defense, turning the table on scammers by using AI tools for financial crime prevention." -- Lenny Gusel, Head of Fraud Solutions for Feedzai in North America
As the World Cup approaches, banks that proactively implement these layered defenses will not only protect their customers but also strengthen their own operational resilience against evolving financial crime tactics.
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