How Do You Plan a Tournament Across Three Countries? An Interview with Prof. Dr. Alexander Hodeck

Prof. Dr. Alexander Hodeck: FIFA coordinates the varying standards of the 16 World Cup host venues through a strict “Clean Site Overlay” concept, global FIFA stadium guidelines, and regional mobility networks. Since the tournament is taking place exclusively in existing arenas (mostly NFL and multipurpose stadiums) in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, consistency is ensured through temporary adjustments. In this process, FIFA takes control of the venues for a defined period before, during, and after the tournament. During this phase, all non-compliant elements are temporarily removed and replaced with uniform FIFA standards. This applies, among other things, to the areas of media, hospitality, sponsorship, technical infrastructure, and security. Where local arenas deviate from FIFA specifications, temporary solutions are implemented. A prominent example of this is BMO Field in Toronto, where additional temporary stands were erected to meet FIFA’s required minimum capacity of 40,000 spectators. Rules for the playing field, of course, also apply in accordance with FIFA regulations. To standardize the digital infrastructure across all venues, FIFA is collaborating with global technology partners such as Lenovo and Verizon. This ensures that standardized communication systems are in place in all stadiums worldwide.

In addition, the host cities are working closely together in cross-national forums such as the “WC26 Mobility and Operations Peer Exchange.” Standardized transportation and logistics plans are intended to ensure that travel routes, parking guidance systems, and public transportation provide a consistent experience for international fans everywhere.

Prof. Dr. Alexander Hodeck: To minimize the enormous travel demands and CO2 emissions associated with the expanded 48-team final tournament, FIFA has consistently designed the match schedule based on the principle of regional clusters and optimized rest periods. The 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. are geographically divided into three isolated zones (clusters): 

• Western Region: Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco (Bay Area), and Los Angeles.
• Central Region: Kansas City, Dallas, Houston, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.
• Eastern Region: Toronto, Boston, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Miami.

To completely avoid transcontinental flights during the group stage, national teams play all three of their group matches within a single region. In the early rounds of the knockout stage (round of 32 and round of 16), matchups will also largely remain within their respective regions. It is not until the quarterfinals that the tournament becomes geographically concentrated, with the semifinals and the final taking place on July 19, 2026, in New York.

Prof. Dr. Alexander Hodeck: To manage the logistics for the 2026 World Cup, one needs a sophisticated combination of intercultural negotiation skills, agile crisis management, and data-driven supply chain expertise. In this context, a single logistics director is not managing a traditional company, but rather a volatile, continental network under extreme time pressure. The essential core competencies required are:

1. Strategic and geopolitical expertise, including knowledge of the legal and customs systems of three nations and stakeholder diplomacy.
   
   
2. Technological and analytical skills: Predictive analytics & big data for utilizing AI-powered software to predict traffic flows, delivery bottlenecks, and spectator movements in real time, and Digital Twin Governance for managing logistics processes via digital replicas of the 16 stadiums to virtually simulate delivery zones in advance.
   
   
3. Operational excellence under extreme conditions -including agile crisis management.
   
   
4. Sustainability and transformation management with Green Logistics Engineering: Expertise in CO2-optimized fleet management, route minimization, and the implementation of a circular economy for tons of event waste.

Prof. Dr. Alexander Hodeck: Communication among the countless functional areas and the three participating governments is ensured through a centralized Joint Cooperation Center (JCC), standardized digital collaboration platforms, and legally binding intergovernmental agreements. The communication system is based on four main pillars:

1. Centralized command and control centers. The Joint Cooperation Center (JCC) consolidates all information from the three host nations (the U.S., Canada, and Mexico). Here, representatives from government agencies, security forces, and FIFA sit at the same table to exchange situation reports in real time. In addition, there are Local Operations Centers (LOCs): Each of the 16 host cities operates its own local control center. These are directly linked to the JCC so that operational issues (such as transportation or security incidents) can be reported immediately to higher authorities.
   
   
2. Unified digital communications architecture and encrypted government networks: Tamper-proof, cross-border channels will be provided for security and intelligence agencies (such as the FBI, RCMP, and SEGOB) to share threat assessments in real time.
   
   
3. Legal and strategic framework agreements, known as “Government Guarantees”: All three governments were required to provide binding guarantees as early as the bidding process. These govern the establishment of interministerial working groups that ensure seamless communication between customs, immigration, and health authorities.
   
   
4. Standardized protocols and terminology: Operations are conducted according to the Incident Command System (ICS) principle. This ensures that all stakeholders - regardless of country or agency - use the same terminology and clear hierarchies in crisis situations. Multilingual task forces: All central communication hubs are staffed entirely in two languages (English and Spanish) and, in some cases, three languages (including French for Canada) to completely eliminate misunderstandings caused by language barriers.

Prof. Dr. Alexander Hodeck: At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, AI-powered real-time control will serve as the digital nervous system, consolidating data from all 16 host cities at the central Joint Cooperation Center (JCC). It enables resources to be deployed not just according to rigid schedules, but dynamically and proactively exactly where they are urgently needed. The specific applications of AI in resource planning:

1. Predictive crowd logistics and local transportation: Dynamic bus and train scheduling: AI systems analyze real-time data from cameras, GPS data from fan shuttles, and cell towers.
   
   
2. Demand-driven workforce management (workforce planning): Flexible staffing: Thousands of volunteers and security personnel are managed based on data.
   
   
3. Predictive Maintenance and Technical Support: Sensors in the stadiums monitor air conditioning systems, power grids, and IT systems. AI algorithms detect minor anomalies (e.g., voltage drops or temperature spikes, overly dry turf) and alert technical teams with the appropriate replacement parts before a system fails during a game.
   
   
4. Supply Chain and Catering Optimization: AI models forecast food and beverage consumption based on factors such as weather, the nationalities of the competing teams, and kickoff time. Logistics centers adjust restocking to the concession stands in real time. This reduces food waste and optimizes the use of refrigerated transport vehicles.

A major event like the World Cup requires a great deal of organizational effort and expertise - as our interview with Prof. Dr. Alexander Hodeck clearly shows. Sponsorship also demands a great deal of specialized knowledge. Find out what matters most here.  

The interview was conducted by Verena Neff.