Fort Worth prepares for World Cup visitors with expanded public safety plan

City officials outlined staffing, patrols and translation technology for the 39-day operation.

Years of security planning will soon be put to the test as the FIFA World Cup kicks off next week, bringing watch parties, pop-up events and daily soccer celebrations across North Texas.

Fort Worth officials revealed some of their security measures at a meeting, including plans for daily World Cup events at Sundance Square, where the city’s iconic silver cowboy hat is now surrounded by colorful soccer balls.

Sonny Saxton, Fort Worth’s emergency management and communications director, said the city is prepared.

“Bottom line is, we are ready,” Saxton said.

A FIFA patrol unit will include nearly 100 officers split into eight teams over three shifts, officials said.

“That’s special for our World Cup operations, so for the next 39 days they’ll be out and available for assignment,” Saxton said.

Some municipal court trials and dockets will also go virtual, allowing city marshals to be reassigned to City Hall or special events.

On match days, Fort Worth plans to surge staffing not only for police, but also for fire, EMS and 911 services. Officials said new technology will help call takers communicate with visitors from around the world.

“That allows us to translate 100 languages almost instantly using artificial intelligence,” Saxton said.

Fort Worth Police Chief Eddie Garcia said the added focus on visitors means fewer vacations for officers during the tournament.

“Our officers know that come the start of FIFA, you’re going to have to wait until after FIFA before you take some official vacations,” Garcia said.

All safety and security planning is expected to come at a cost, but officials did not yet have a total. They said they are working with the North Central Texas Council of Governments on reimbursements and hope to have an estimate next week.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.