The report says officials are focusing not only on stadium security, but also on transport hubs, fan zones and nightlife districts. That matters because the World Cup in North America will demand long-distance travel, packed public transport and crowd management on a huge scale.
Big events are often judged by what happens away from the pitch:
Those details can define the supporter experience as much as the football itself.
The report paints a varied picture from city to city. Mexico City is said to have the lowest City Safety Index score among host venues at 33.2, with concerns around theft, overcrowding and the wider trip to Estadio Azteca. Kansas City is reportedly dealing with the highest violent-crime figure among host cities at 1,547.11 offences per 100,000 people.
Elsewhere, the issue appears less about crime and more about practicality:
That matters for England too. The report says they are due to face Panama at MetLife Stadium on 27 June, a fixture that would place one of the tournament’s biggest travelling fanbases in one of its most expensive and heavily scrutinised host areas. In a World Cup this spread out, planning may become almost as important as form.
As the opening day on 11 June gets closer, the next storyline is clear: whether host cities can turn vast logistical challenges into a tournament that feels smooth, secure and supporter-friendly from first whistle to final.