Hackers are no longer only interested in banks or large companies. A new report shows that professional sports are also now massively in the crosshairs. The 2026 FIFA World Cup could be particularly attractive to cybercriminals.
Referees wear body cameras, the Video Assistant Referee checks contentious scenes from a control room, and fans buy tickets, place bets, or order snacks via an app in the stadium. Technology has long been a part of professional sports.
What is the problem? Thanks to many technological improvements, sports have matured in many areas and have become fairer. But this very digitization also makes sports more vulnerable to hackers – a new survey by security company Darktrace now shows how significant the problem already is. (TechRadar)
According to the survey, 84 percent of the professional sports organizations surveyed reported that they had experienced at least one cyber incident in the past twelve months. More than half of the organizations were even attacked multiple times.
Particularly striking: 43 percent of organizations reported between six and ten incidents within a single year. On average, such an attack cost around 169,000 US dollars. Those that were affected multiple times had to reckon with annual damages of up to 1.7 million US dollars. (Intelligentciso)
For the study, Darktrace surveyed 875 cybersecurity experts from sports organizations in the USA, UK, Australia, and Germany. The results paint a clear picture: Professional sports have become a lucrative target for attackers. With a view to major events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup, experts warn that the attack surface for cybercriminals is continually growing. (Darktrace)
The head of Darktrace, Ed Jennings, describes the problem in a LinkedIn post as follows:
The larger the event, the larger the commercial ecosystem around it – and the larger the attack surface for hackers.
Again and Again AI
What role does AI play in the attacks? A major driver of development is Artificial Intelligence. 83 percent of surveyed security experts believe they have already observed cyberattacks involving AI. 72 percent also expect that AI will further increase the risk in the coming year.
According to Darktrace, attackers now use AI among other things for:
- Deceptively realistic phishing emails
- Deepfakes of athletes or officials
- Fake websites and brand appearances
- Faster and more precise attacks on digital systems
At the same time, clubs themselves are increasingly relying on AI – for example, in ticketing, fan communication, or stadium operations. This has created new security gaps that are often not adequately secured. (ItDaily & Darktrace)
What do you think? Does the increasing digitization of sports concern you, or are cameras, VAR, and AI just part of modern sports for you? Let us know in the comments!
While football clubs are now investing billions in their digital infrastructure and must protect themselves against hackers, there is also a sport that is practically completely based on technology: eSports. League of Legends legend Faker has just reached a new milestone – and shares it with a German professional.
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