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World Cup 2026: Terrorism insurance considerations

While no specific plots have been identified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the time of publication, the treat environment is elevated.
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By Christopher Parsons , 

War, Terrorism and Political Violence Broker

05/27/2026 · 3 minute read

Major international sporting events, like the FIFA World Cup, have long been featured on the radar of threat actors.

While no specific plots have been identified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the time of publication, the threat environment is elevated. 

According to Marsh’s Global Terrorism Risk Insurance Report 2026, the terrorism threat landscape is shifting from a high focus on attacks aiming to cause property damage to those targeting people, which can come with increased frequency, and a wider array of targets, weapons, and tactics. Globally, civil unrest is on the rise, coinciding with notable increases in levels of inequality and polarisation.

Recognising this elevated and evolving threat environment, organisations that believe they are at risk should take a proactive, holistic approach to managing terrorism, political violence and civil unrest exposures. That means conducting jurisdiction-specific risk assessments, strengthening mitigation and crisis-response plans, and reviewing insurance programmes to assess how they would address a range of scenarios—from active assailant incidents to politically motivated disorder.

Political violence or terrorism?

The line between “political violence” and “standalone terrorism” is not always clear. A company’s unique risk profile may ultimately make purchasing both forms of coverage the right approach.

To build the right programme for your organisation, it is important to understand the common policy types and, ultimately, to review policy definitions and triggers with care:

  • Terrorism policies can provide coverage for physical damage and business interruption resulting from acts that are motivated by politics, religion, or ideology.
  • Terrorism policies typically exclude the perils of strikes, riots and civil commotion (SRCC), and war, civil war, insurrection, revolution, rebellion, and coup d’état. However, policies can be extended to include this coverage if desired.
  • Political violence will generally include the above-mentioned perils, in addition to terrorism and strikes, riots and civil commotion (SRCC) perils.

Crowd management and civil commotion

Football or soccer carries a distinct cultural intensity. Historical incidents at international matches – from stadium crush events to post-match disorder – demonstrate that crowd-related risks extend well beyond the stadium perimeter. Fan zones, transportation hubs, bars, and restaurants hosting viewing parties all fall within the risk perimeter and represent categories of insureds that may require tailored guidance. Travel disruption risks caused by heightened security measures, particularly at airports and train stations, are likely to persist throughout the tournament.

For insurers and risk managers, this broad exposure perimeter matters. Standard property and liability policies may have limitations in relation to incidents occurring outside the immediate venue – making specialist coverage such as event liability, contingency, and civil commotion key considerations for any business operating within the tournament footprint.

Certain fixtures carry additional sensitivities. Matches involving nations with significant geopolitical tensions, or those touching on social and political issues, have the potential to spark civil unrest and fan demonstrations, requiring robust contingency planning from event organisers and their insurers alike.

Where civil unrest is elevated, SRCC coverage deserves special attention. SRCC exposures can sometimes be excluded or sub-limited, which could leave event organisers, broadcasters, hospitality operators and local businesses exposed to greater potential losses from property damage, business interruption, and liability claims arising from crowd-related incidents than they may realise. Reviewing policy scope in light of the specific geography and fixture schedule of the tournament is a key recommended step.

Implications for risk professionals

From active assailant to political violence to civil unrest, organisations should aim adopt a thorough approach to assessing their risks and purchasing insurance that aligns with their risk profile. Marsh’s Terrorism and Political Violence specialists can help you to select an insurance programme that is right for you. 

Speak to your Marsh broker or fill out the form below to arrange a review of your risks.

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