Counterterrorism Operations Support, Center for Radiological Nuclear Training

Preparing for the Largest Event in the U.S.

It’s the biggest event in the United States—equivalent to hosting two or three Superbowl events each day—for multiple days. It’s the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup 26. Preparation for this upcoming event is a massive undertaking.

Counterterrorism Operations Support (CTOS) is one of the training providers within the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, (NDPC) that provides highly specialized instruction on the prevention and response to radiological and nuclear weapons of mass destruction. CTOS and NDPC enhance the preparedness of federal, state, local, territorial and tribal emergency responders/first receivers and teams, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to reduce the Nation’s vulnerability to incidents involving weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, and all-hazard high-consequence events by developing, delivering, and assessing plans, training, technical assistance, and exercises. In preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2026 (taking place throughout June 2026), FEMA asked the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium (NDPC)—of which CTOS is a part—to report on all training provided in game host cities and team base camp cities.

The biggest-ever edition of the global showpiece will feature 104 games, with 48 teams competing across 16 host cities (11 of which are in the U.S.) in three countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. (FIFA World Cup 26 website)

CTOS Leverage Acadis to Deliver Critical Preparedness Reporting to FEMA

As an Acadis Readiness Suite Premier Services partner, CTOS was able to work with their Acadis Premier Services Administrator to meet the mission. They were able to flag the respective CTOS trainings within the 50-mile geographical radius of all game host cities and team base camp cities in their Acadis system— both online and in-person training events. The FEMA report saved significant human hours in compiling the information as CTOS delivers thousands of trainings throughout the United States each year. The report will help portray the extent and impact of CTOS training offered within the FEMA and Homeland Security services.

This symbiotic relationship contributes to the safety of our nation and municipalities. From a national perspective, there are insufficient federal resources to cover an event of this size. So it is necessary to partner with local and state public safety resources and ensure they are trained and prepared to assist in the case of a nuclear incident. From a state and local perspective, these agencies lack the expertise and supplies to conduct training exercises that CTOS is uniquely equipped to deliver, which include shipping radioactive materials and subject matter experts to deliver the training. Acadis streamlines training logistics, including registration, instructor assignments, competency testing and assessments, and reporting, with a focus on meeting specific needs such as the FEMA report.

CTOS Training Benefits First Responders and Support Agencies

CTOS programs benefit more than 20,000 first responders in state, local, and tribal governments each year, in addition to other skilled support personnel who provide immediate support services during prevention, response, and recovery operations. Municipal and county departments across all 50 states benefit from CTOS training, including:

• Emergency Medical Services
• Emergency Management Agency
• Fire Service
• Government Administrative
• Hazardous Materials Personnel
• Law Enforcement
• Healthcare
• Public Health
• Public Safety Communications
• Public Works
• State and Local First Responders
• Title 32 National Guard

As the U.S. prepares for the unprecedented scale of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, CTOS stands at the forefront of national readiness, delivering mission-critical radiological and nuclear preparedness training to public safety personnel nationwide. Supported by the Acadis Readiness Suite, CTOS has streamlined complex reporting, ensuring the delivery of accurate and timely data to FEMA and the Federal government. This collaboration exemplifies how federal agencies can leverage purpose-built technology to amplify operational impact, enhance mission readiness, and uphold public safety with peak operational efficiency.

*About the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium (NDPC)
 The NDPC delivers training to state and local emergency responders. Since its establishment in 1998, the NDPC’s impact on national preparedness has been substantial. The NDPC has conducted training in all 50 states and each U.S. territory—benefiting more than 4 million people. Today, the consortium’s various programs meet the training and education needs of more than 60,000 emergency responders and state, local, and tribal government employees. The consortium applies its expertise in academics, curriculum development, and instructional techniques to produce training programs that address the most urgent needs of the emergency response community.