AIB publishes FIFA World Cup 2026 safety briefing for media organisations
The Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) has published a new safety briefing for member organisations ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will take place across the USA, Mexico and Canada.
The briefing has been developed to support broadcasters, production companies and media organisations deploying staff to the tournament, with a particular focus on operational, legal and digital security risks that may affect media personnel working in and around the event.
While the World Cup is one of the world’s largest sporting occasions, the AIB notes that the operating environment for media organisations has become significantly more complex in recent years. The guidance highlights issues including enhanced border scrutiny in the USA, device inspection and digital security concerns, civil unrest and crowd safety considerations, as well as location-specific security risks in parts of Mexico.
Importantly, the briefing is not aimed solely at reporters and correspondents. The AIB stresses that production staff, engineering teams, technical crews, producers, digital teams and operational personnel may face the same risk profile as journalists, particularly when entering the USA or operating in fast-moving public situations.
The publication forms part of the AIB’s wider work supporting member organisations with strategic intelligence, operational awareness and risk mitigation across the international media sector.
The AIB is also working closely with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on safety issues surrounding the World Cup. Together, the organisations are developing a series of webinars and practical briefings for media organisations and their staff in the run-up to the tournament.
The first webinar is scheduled to take place on 25 May, with registration details to be circulated to AIB members shortly.
Simon Spanswick, chief executive of the AIB, said:
“Risk for media organisations is no longer confined to traditional hostile environments. Increasingly, operational risk begins at the border and extends through digital exposure, legal considerations and rapidly changing public situations.
We felt it was important to provide practical guidance that can support not only journalists, but everyone involved in the deployment of media operations around the World Cup.”
The FIFA World Cup 2026 safety briefing is available exclusively to AIB members.
Media organisations that are not currently members of the AIB and would like to discuss access to the briefing, AIB membership and the range of intelligence reports, strategic briefings, working groups and industry support provided by the Association are invited to contact the AIB Secretariat.
Further information about the AIB is available at: AIB official website