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Cybersecurity firm Acronis is warning that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be a major target for cybercriminals, with AI-generated phishing sites, fake ticketing scams and rogue Wi-Fi networks among the threats expected to hit fans both in person and online.
The Acronis Threat Research Unit has outlined a range of attacks it expects to escalate as the tournament gets underway across North America, arguing that advances in generative AI are making fraudulent websites and social engineering campaigns harder for consumers to detect.
“Large global sporting events like the Olympics and this week’s World Cup kickoff are breeding grounds for cybercriminals to target unsuspecting fans,” the Acronis Threat Research Unit warned. “As millions make plans for travel, accommodations and tickets surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup events taking place across North America, threat actors use this uptick in activity to their advantage.”
AI raising the bar for fake sites
A central concern in the Acronis advisory is the role that generative AI is now playing in the quality of phishing attacks. Where fraudulent ticketing websites and scam emails were once relatively easy to identify through poor design or spelling errors, AI tools have closed that gap.
“With the rise of AI, hackers can make websites look even more legitimate, convincing fans to enter personal information and credit card details for expensive ticket purchases, only to receive a fake QR-code ticket that won’t work at stadium gates,” the research unit noted.
The warning comes as millions of international visitors are expected to travel to the United States, Canada and Mexico for the tournament, creating a surge in online activity around tickets, accommodation, transport and live streaming – all of which represent attack surfaces for criminal operators.
Threats facing fans at venues
For supporters attending matches in person, the Acronis Threat Research Unit identified three primary threat categories.
The first is rogue public Wi-Fi. Airports, hotels, stadiums and fan zones are expected to become hotspots for fake Wi-Fi networks designed to intercept credentials or redirect users to malicious websites. Fans connecting to open networks to check results or share photos on social media may be unknowingly exposing login details or other sensitive information.
The second is QR code scams, which Acronis refers to as “quishing.” The growing use of QR codes at live events has created a new vector for attacks that trick users into visiting fake sites posing as ticket vendors or promotional giveaways. These sites then request personal information or payment details.
The third covers digital payment infrastructure. Organisations supporting major events face increased risks from distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, brand impersonation and credential-theft campaigns targeting payment systems.
Online viewers also at risk
Fans watching matches remotely face a separate but overlapping set of threats, according to Acronis. As demand for live streams increases around a tournament of this scale, cybercriminals are expected to exploit viewers through a range of tactics.
Fake streaming websites are among the most common. These platforms offer free or discounted access to matches but are designed to harvest login credentials, payment information or personal data. Unofficial streaming sites also tend to carry deceptive advertisements that redirect users to phishing pages or trigger malware downloads.
Fake streaming apps present another risk. Cybercriminals distribute unofficial mobile applications that appear to offer match coverage but instead install malware or spyware on users’ devices.
Account takeover attacks are also expected to increase, with credential-stuffing campaigns targeting popular streaming services. These attacks use stolen usernames and passwords from previous data breaches to gain access to existing accounts.
Acronis also flagged scam promotions and giveaways tied to the tournament. Fans may encounter fake prize offers or subscription deals designed to collect personal information or payment details under the cover of World Cup branding.
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What fans can do
The Acronis Threat Research Unit is advising fans to stick to official platforms for ticket purchases and streaming, verify URLs before entering credentials or payment information and avoid using public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions.
Enabling multi-factor authentication on streaming and ticketing accounts is also recommended, along with treating any unsolicited messages related to tickets, travel, streaming access or account issues with caution.
“Events that bring in millions of spectators are a recipe for cybercriminals,” the research unit continued. “More fans mean more opportunities for people to unexpectedly give away personal data or sensitive information, whether that’s through purchasing tickets on fake phishing sites or connecting to public Wi-Fi to simply share event photos on social media.”
A recurring pattern around major events
The warning follows a broader pattern of cybersecurity alerts tied to large-scale international sporting events. The Olympics, previous FIFA World Cup tournaments and other global competitions have all been accompanied by spikes in phishing, credential theft and scam activity.
What has shifted, according to Acronis, is the sophistication of the attacks. The combination of generative AI tools, widespread QR code adoption and the volume of cross-border travel and online activity around a tournament hosted across three countries creates a wider attack surface than previous events.
For Australian fans travelling to North America for the tournament, the advice around public Wi-Fi and fake ticketing sites is particularly relevant given the reliance on international roaming and unfamiliar local networks during travel.
The Acronis Threat Research Unit framed the tournament as a reminder that while major sporting events bring people together, they also create conditions that cybercriminals are well positioned to exploit through phishing, impersonation and fraud campaigns targeting fans, travellers and online viewers.
Last Updated on June 13, 2026 by Nick Ross
