This month, Toronto and Vancouver will become the epicentres of global football passion. However, while the national teams fine-tune their tactics and fans prepare their jerseys, another match has already begun, silently, swiftly, and relentlessly: the cybersecurity showdown.

An event of this magnitude is to cyber attackers what reaching the final is to the players: a prime opportunity for success. In 2026, the digital landscape in Canada is at a point where technological innovation and fraud prevention will be of paramount importance.

When we talk about the World Cup, we think of goals, celebrations, and tourism, but from a cybersecurity perspective, this milestone is a vast network of data. Every fan entering a stadium will carry a mobile device, consume data, make electronic payments, and search for Wi-Fi networks to share their experience. This hyperconnectivity is a marvel of innovation, but it also expands the potential attack surface for fraud and scams.

Cybercriminals are opportunistic and use social engineering to deceive people by appealing to their emotions. And what emotion could be stronger for a fan than the desire to be at a prestigious World Cup game at BC Place or Toronto Stadium?

One of the most common scams will be themed phishing via email or WhatsApp, offering incredible deals on tickets or VIP travel packages. These messages, now enhanced by artificial intelligence (AI), are free of spelling errors and use logos and images that are remarkably similar to official ones, aiming to trick users into clicking on a malicious link and handing over their bank details or passwords in the excitement of the moment.

We will also see a rise in live-stream scams. Fans unable to attend the stadium will look for ways to watch the matches online, and various websites will appear offering free streaming in exchange for downloading a small file or registering with a credit card for verification purposes. In most cases, what the user is downloading is a virus that will take control of their device.

For the business sector in Canada, this sporting event represents both a golden opportunity and a significant responsibility. From large hotel chains to small businesses that will accept digital payments, everyone is part of the country's supply chain. A company that suffers a cyberattack during the tournament not only loses money and data, but also the trust of an international market that is watching.

In this sense, implementing advanced technological solutions is no longer a luxury. Companies must understand that cybercrime is now an automated industry. Therefore, the response must be equally technological, using AI or unified cloud-based systems for threat detection, with complete integration that protects everything from the office computer to the mobile phone of the remote employee.

Investments in technology and cybersecurity during this period will help create a robust digital ecosystem that will attract further investment even after the World Cup, building a connected, smart, and above all, secure Canada.

At the end of the 2026 World Cup, when the last fan returns home and the stadiums fall silent, the true victory will not be measured in goals but in our ability to protect the identity, assets, and privacy of every individual who is part of this story.

This showdown is preventable. The time to build resilience is now—before Canada takes the stage later this year.