World Cup 2026 raises cyber‑attack risk for Portuguese businesses

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, is expected to increase the exposure of Portuguese companies—especially tourism, e‑commerce, transport and digital‑service providers—to cyber‑attacks, according to insurer Hiscox.

Hiscox warns that large international events create more opportunities for phishing, ransomware, fraud and AI‑related threats. It cites data from the CNCS showing a surge in phishing, smishing and ransomware incidents in 2024, and notes that globally 59% of SMEs suffered a cyber‑attack in the past year, with 27% hit by ransomware and 57% linking incidents to AI vulnerabilities.

The insurer recommends five essential measures: test backup and business‑continuity plans, protect critical systems against ransomware and DDoS, evaluate supplier security, train staff on cyber‑awareness, and establish clear incident‑response procedures. It adds that 95% of Portuguese SMEs plan to increase spending on cybersecurity in 2026.