The City of Miami recently conducted a tabletop exercise in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as stated in an official announcement. The event, organized in coordination with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), took place Wednesday at the Miami Police Benevolent Association. The exercise involved collaboration among local, state, and federal agencies, as well as private sector partners.
Participants took part in a scenario designed to test communication and coordination among various agencies, simulating an incident that assessed their emergency response and operational continuity plans. The exercise aimed to evaluate these plans and identify areas for improvement. According to the City of Miami, City Manager James Reyes said that hosting the tabletop exercise was an important step in preparing the city for the 2026 World Cup.
The exercise involved a hypothetical threat scenario that tested intelligence and information-sharing protocols, the implementation of coordinated response frameworks such as the Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS), and evacuation and shelter-in-place procedures. It addressed crowd management, with particular attention to individuals with access and functional needs, and assessed the effectiveness of internal and external communication channels.
CISA Acting Regional Director Kate Nichols highlighted the importance of pre-event preparations. She stated that the upcoming FIFA World Cup presents an opportunity for Miami and the country, emphasizing that exercises like this help ensure all potential scenarios are addressed and reflect ongoing collaboration with partners to maintain safety. The exercise was a preparedness initiative, not a response to any specific threat, and was closed to the public and media, with participation by invitation only.
For additional information on Miami’s emergency preparedness efforts, the city’s emergency management department offers resources online. The public can also access training opportunities and other resources from CISA to support cybersecurity and physical infrastructure resilience.
