Special Event Assessment Rating 1 (SEAR 1)
The US Department of Homeland Security's highest security assessment tier for major events.
Last refreshed: 19 July 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
The World Cup final just got the same security rating as the Super Bowl; what does SEAR 1 actually trigger?
Timeline for Special Event Assessment Rating 1 (SEAR 1)
Final designated SEAR 1 under highest US security tier
2026 FIFA World CupBackground
US authorities designated all 78 matches on American soil at the 2026 World Cup as National Special Security Events, assigning each a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) between 1 and 5 according to its scale and risk; the final itself carried the top SEAR 1 tier, the Department of Homeland Security's highest, triggering expanded Secret Service presence.
SEAR is a risk-based framework run by DHS's Office of Operations Coordination, which assesses events voluntarily submitted by state, local and federal officials. SEAR 1, the top tier, is reserved for events of major national or international significance; comparable past ratings have covered the Super Bowl and the Boston Marathon.
The Secretary of Homeland Security appoints a Federal Coordinator for every SEAR 1 event, underlining the scale of the security operation around a World Cup final staged on US soil.
What is a SEAR 1 event?
Why was the World Cup final designated SEAR 1?
What other events have had a SEAR 1 rating?
What security rating did each 2026 World Cup match receive in the US?
