Exclusive: Chart reveals complex security operation for FIFA World Cup in Vancouver
Document obtained by theBreaker.news under freedom of information.
Unlike the FIFA World Cup teams on the B.C. Place Stadium pitch in June and July, there will be no single manager of the local security operation.
A copy of the confidential agency organization chart, obtained by theBreaker.news from BC Hydro under freedom of information, shows three police agencies will work with FIFA’s event operations, Vancouver’s host city policy group and health authorities.
The chart is based on the seven match days and visually describes what is called the C4/I2 structure, standing for Command, Control, Communications and Computing and Information and Intelligence.
Policing podium
B.C. RCMP, Metro Vancouver Transit Police and Vancouver Police Department are organized in gold (strategic), silver (tactical) and bronze (operational) divisions. The designations are a legacy of the RCMP-led security operation for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.
Each will have their own operations or command centre. In the case of the RCMP, it will be in Richmond to oversee Vancouver International Airport and the University of B.C., where teams will train at the Vancouver Whitecaps’ facility. Various RCMP detachments and federal policing offices will be involved, as will public order, critical incident, tactical and special units.
The stadium, its surroundings, Killarney training pitch and the PNE fan festival are the prime focus of the VPD, which will have two public safety and urban domain units to handle hotels, protests and traffic. It includes critical incident, tactical and specialty units.
Big D
The B.C. Place Stadium operations centre will work under the FIFA main operations centre, to be located in Dallas, and alongside the silver tactical commanders and Vancouver emergency operations centre at E-Comm 911.
The federal and provincial governments will have their own emergency support stream and a health emergency control centre connected to B.C. Emergency Health Services.
Tabletop
Last September, authorities got together for a tabletop exercise to simulate threats such as mass-casualty and mass-victimization incidents, explosives and suspicious packages.
Heavily redacted documents include a photograph of a stuffed bear toy at the public memorial to the victims of last April’s Lapu Lapu Day vehicle ramming attach in South Vancouver.
On its chest, someone wrote: “politicians please stop the mental health crisis.”
It is on a page below the FIFA-trademarked “We Are Vancouver” slogan.
The Filipino festival’s food truck row was staged on a street without rigid barriers: 11 people were killed and dozens more injured. Adam Kai-Ji Lo is facing second degree murder charges.
In 2024, the city hall’s top FIFA security contractor, former New Westminster and Transit Police chief Dave Jones, warned in an affidavit about vehicle ramming attacks.
Cost?
Nobody has announced the all-in budget for security and safety for FIFA 26 in Vancouver.
“Integrated public safety and security within hosting area” is one of the functions under the $315 million to $345 million budget for City of Vancouver and public sector service providers, including TransLink and health services.
Last November’s federal budget included $100 million for federal services, from Department of Canadian Heritage, RCMP, Canada Border Services Agency, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority and Canadian Food Inspection Agency.