Levi’s Stadium security uses Gold Cup as dry run for 2026 World Cup matches

By Christian Babcock

SANTA CLARA — Levi’s Stadium had its most recent dress rehearsal for next year’s FIFA men’s World Cup matches on Wednesday when it hosted Mexico and Honduras for a CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal.

There was nothing like what happened at a 2023 Gold Cup game at Levi’s, when a fan was stabbed and critically injured in the stands. There were a few much smaller incidents.

One fan rushed the field during second-half stoppage time, pausing to take a selfie with Mexico striker Santiago Gimenez before being escorted off the field by security.

Multiple fans entered the field after the game, though none got particularly close to any player on either team. Annoyed by time-wasting tactics by Mexico late in the game, some fans also began throwing drinks toward the field of play.

The six World Cup matches will present a different challenge than any Levi’s Stadium has faced before – an event even bigger than the Super Bowl, which Levi’s first hosted in 2016 and will again in 2026. But 49ers vice president of stadium operations Francine Melendez Hughes is confident her staff will be up to the task.

“We’ve actually been preparing for the World Cup for quite some time,” Hughes said.

From her vantage point, the Gold Cup was something of a proof of concept for what Levi’s can achieve during the World Cup.

“It went really smoothly,” Hughes said. “We’ve worked with CONCACAF in the past. We always do our due diligence with other stadiums that have hosted them. We work with our local law enforcement partners. It’s always a lot of iterative and collaborative communication just to make sure that we’re prepared to host the event.”

Not everyone is convinced. Mexico fan Monica Escobedo traveled to Levi’s from Concord with her family on Wednesday, and while getting into the stadium was easier than at other Mexico matches she had attended, she expressed skepticism that Levi’s was fully prepared to host an event of the World Cup’s magnitude.

“I don’t think we’re ready for the World Cup,” Escobedo said. “There’s a lot of people that are not very happy with the U.S., so I don’t think they’re gonna be willing to travel and come here. This venue, particularly, is not very good with the shade. That’s one of the challenges that this venue faces… Today, the weather is really nice, but usually it’s like 100 degrees and your head is burning.”

Heat has been an issue at Levi’s since its opening in 2014, including the death of a fan who collapsed at a 49ers preseason game in 2016. Game times play a role, and those will be determined by FIFA, global soccer’s governing body, closer to the match dates in 2026.

“We do everything we can to prepare for weather events, and we message out to our fan base,” Hughes said. “We ensure that they understand they should make sure that they’re hydrated, make sure they wear clothes that allow them to sweat.”

There are many types of incidents that can befall a big soccer match. Last July, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami contended with a fan crush at the Copa America championship as eager fans rushed the entrance gates, delaying the start time and creating a dangerous situation.

At the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, a group of fans broke through security barriers and reached the media room prior to a game in Rio de Janeiro.

“With any type of sporting event, you have such excited fans,” Hughes said, referring to Wednesday night’s on-field fans. “So we ensure that we understand what’s going on at other stadiums, at other venues, to ensure that we’re prepared for any type of field intrusion.”

Some fans at the Gold Cup match struggled to maneuver the concourses with limited signage inside the stadium, and much of it was English-only. Hughes said the 49ers will have interpreters available to help fans from different countries navigate their way around the stadium.

Away from soccer, Hughes was in charge of stadium security for the Dodgers on the night in 2011 when Giants fan Bryan Stow was beaten by multiple Dodgers fans in the parking lot at Dodger Stadium, suffering debilitating and life-threatening brain damage. But Hughes is confident that her experiences and those of her team have them equipped for what’s to come.

“It was a very unfortunate situation that happened with Bryan Stow, and I would never wish that on anyone. Safety is our No. 1 priority and will always continue to be,” Hughes said, stressing collaboration with other venues and law enforcement.

There have also been concerns about the potential presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at World Cup matches in the wake of President Donald Trump’s administration conducting militarized raids across the country. Worries over detentions by ICE kept some fans away from the Gold Cup semifinal, and some who attended also acknowledged that concern.

“We make it a practice to be prepared for any potential risk at the stadium,” Hughes said, again noting the stadium’s close work with law enforcement agencies.

The World Cup should be a time of celebration for Bay Area soccer fans and those traveling in to watch the games from around the world. The 49ers have one year left to ensure their plan to keep those fans safe, secure and able to fully enjoy the festivities is ready to go.

“We learn from each event, we get better the next time,” Hughes said. “We’re always in the practice of preparing for any type of event, including global events like the World Cup or Super Bowl that come our way.”

And it’s likely that whatever hurdles are in place, fans will show up anyway.

“It’s soccer, right?” Mexico supporter Pablo Ramirez said before the Gold Cup match. “It unites everyone all over the world. You’ve seen it in the World Cup, Club World Cup. Same thing in the Gold Cup. Doesn’t really matter what’s going around, everything gets put on pause as long as you’re enjoying the game of soccer.”

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