A Summer of Delivery: Lessons from FIFA Fan Festivals Across North America
How Wiz-Team delivered seamless accreditation and access control across three host cities for one of sport’s biggest global moments
Wiz-Team played a pivotal role in delivering successful fan festivals across three host cities in North America – Houston, Toronto and Vancouver – in support of this summer’s international football tournament, one of the world’s most-watched sporting events.
Through its expertise in event management, Wiz-Team managed the registration, accreditation and access control of approximately 450,000 people across the three locations. The company successfully handled multiple stakeholder groups, including members of the public, media representatives, staff and volunteers, ensuring each received the appropriate level of access while maintaining smooth and secure operations throughout.
“This is a continuation of the work we have been doing with cities that host major international events,” said Wiz-Team’s Chief Revenue Officer Tim Goethals. “By supporting the delivery of well-organised fan experiences beyond the confines of official venues, we help cities maximise the value of these unique opportunities while creating memorable experiences for residents and visitors alike.”
Building on success in Paris 2024
The North American project builds on Wiz-Team’s experience gained through its partnership with the City of Paris during the 2024 Olympic Games, where the company supported the organisation of fan zones and celebration sites, helping to ensure safe, efficient and enjoyable operations for large-scale crowds.
This latest assignment further demonstrates Wiz-Team’s ability to support host cities in managing major public gatherings, combining innovative technology with hands-on operational expertise.
A complete turnkey solution
For this summer’s fan festival activities, Wiz-Team delivered a comprehensive turnkey solution across all three host cities, providing both the technology and operational support required to manage events at this scale.
Its accreditation platform incorporated all software and hardware necessary for managing hundreds of thousands of stakeholders throughout the tournament period. Alongside its all-in-one event management platform Event-Works – with its suite of customisable tools – Wiz-Team produced tailored badges, lanyards and wristbands, while supplying onsite printers and access-control scanning devices.
Beyond software and hardware, Wiz-Team staff spent a combined 50 days onsite across the three cities. Team members provided support across system management, hardware testing, data administration and accreditation centre setup, while also training volunteers and overseeing the installation and operation of printers, badges and access-control equipment.
The project highlights how Wiz-Team successfully combines innovative technology with experienced personnel and proven operational processes. It also demonstrates the company’s versatility, as each of the three host cities presented unique requirements and operated under different regulatory frameworks in the United States and Canada.
Supporting cities every step of the way
Why did you choose Wiz-Team as your service provider for registration, accreditation and access control for your fan festival?
- Previous tried, tested, and true event experience! References from previous clients made all the difference with choosing Wiz-Team from the start.
- Wiz-Team offered an efficient & centralized accreditation system.
- Adaptability – System allowed for us to respond quickly to late registrations, credential changes, access adjustments and operational exceptions.
How did Wiz-Team’s approach help ensure smooth and secure operations on the ground?
Having one centralized platform through Wiz-Team improved data consistency, visibility, accountability, and operational efficiency while giving the Accreditation Team a reliable tool to manage a complex, high-volume event environment.
What was it like working with Wiz-Team staff on-site?
Working with the Wiz-Team staff on-site was a positive and collaborative experience. Their team provided hands-on technical and operational support throughout the accreditation process and worked closely with our Accreditation Team to ensure Event-Works functioned effectively in a busy live-event environment. The Wiz-Team staff were responsive, knowledgeable, approachable, and solutions-focused. They understood the time-sensitive nature of accreditation and adapted alongside our team as operational requirements changed.
Michael Wipf, Senior Account Manager – Brand Live Group
Vancouver FIFA Fan Festival
Leveraging strong industry partnerships
A key element of the project’s success was Wiz-Team’s ability to bring together a network of specialised partners to deliver a best-in-class service.
The company collaborated with AccredOps, which provided accreditation and access management services; Ignitx, a specialist in event operations and management; Sportfive and Brand Live Group leaders in sports marketing; and FieldDrive, whose technology enabled automated facial recognition and identity document verification. Together, these partnerships delivered an integrated solution capable of meeting the demands of events on a truly global scale.
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