As the countdown to the FIFA World Cup – the largest sporting event of 2026 – begins, aviation organisations have launched a partnership to support Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) across the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region.
In particular, CANSO (Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation) and ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), in collaboration with Thales, Metron Aviation, PASSUR Aerospace and Aireon, are launching a comprehensive initiative to manage the surge in air traffic expected during the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
With millions of fans, national teams and international delegations set to travel across the region, the partnership is deploying a suite of predictive analytics and flow management tools. This technological ecosystem will allow ANSPs to:
- Anticipate demand peaks: use high-fidelity modelling to predict traffic spikes weeks in advance.
- Optimise airspace efficiency: implement real-time adjustments to flight paths, reducing delays and lowering fuel consumption.
- Synchronise regional operations: enable seamless data-sharing between neighbouring flight information regions (FIRs) for a unified ‘One Sky’ approach.
“The World Cup will bring millions of people together, and aviation plays a key role in making that possible,” said Simon Hocquard, President and CEO of CANSO. “Our goal is to work together across the region to keep flights running smoothly so fans can focus on enjoying the tournament. With this partnership our goal is to unite the region to overcome a global operational challenge and to ensure that for every traveller, the journey is as memorable and seamless as the match itself,” he added.
The initiative marks a milestone in regional cooperation, providing LAC ANSPs with the capability to manage complex traffic patterns while maintaining high standards of safety and environmental responsibility.
The partners bring four complementary capabilities to LAC ANSPs: Thales’s Topsky Flow Management tool, Metron Aviation’s flow-management tools, PASSUR’s flight, airport, and airspace visualization; and Aireon’s surveillance data. Together, these give the region a single, integrated view of its airspace – and the tools to act on it ahead of the World Cup.
Ilhan Ince, PASSUR’s CEO commented: “We are honored to support CANSO and ICAO with the PASSUR ARiVA platform for the FIFA World Cup, alongside the other leading aviation solutions providers who are participating.” He adds: “The operational insights, decision support, and collaboration ARiVA provides will help foster the regional operational coordination this event demands.”
David Antonello, Product Line Manager, ATC Digital Solutions, Thales: “We’re proud to bring TopSky – Flow Managerto the LAC region for a flawless World Cup 2026. The solution delivers high‑precision demand forecasts and real‑time capacity monitoring, turning traffic spikes into predictable, controllable flows and quickly correcting imbalances. The result: seamless, coordinated operations across neighboring FIRs, on‑time flights and reduced fuel burn.”
Paco Solvez – Director, EMEA & LATAM Sales, Aireon: “The World Cup presents an excellent opportunity for collaboration, especially as it pertains to air traffic flow management. Team Aireon is looking forward to collaborating and supplying our world-class data to support LAC ANSPs’ operational objectives, including enhanced situational awareness, air traffic prediction capabilities, and efficient airspace management”
Chris Jordan, President, Metron Aviation, Inc. – The FIFA World Cup will place extraordinary demand on airspace across Latin America and the Caribbean, making collaboration and predictive decision-making essential. Metron Aviation is proud to support CANSO, ICAO, and the LAC region through the integration of COMPASS into daily operations—enabling ANSPs to monitor and publish ATFM Daily Plans, advisories, traffic management measures, and delays, while sharing a common operational picture and gaining insight into regional constraints to support proactive, coordinated traffic flow management.
Josué González, Regional Officer, Air Traffic Management and Search and Rescue, ICAO: “Preparing for the FIFA World Cup 2026 presents a significant opportunity for the aviation community to strengthen regional cooperation, coordination, and air traffic management across Latin America and the Caribbean. By collaborating, ICAO, CANSO, IATA, States, ANSPs, and industry partners can adopt a unified approach to manage increased traffic and ensure safe, efficient, and resilient operations.”
