It is the third time HID has worked with the FIFA World Cup. This year, the company provided a fully custom solution for outer-perimeter access control and all exit gates.
The World Cup kicked off on November 20 and features eight stadiums across five cities in Qatar. The final will be held on December 18. HID delivered approximately two million paper tickets manufactured with unique security features, including a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) inlay.
The company states that unlike barcoded tickets, which can be counterfeited more easily, RFID transmits the unique identity of a ticket and ticket-holder via radio waves. RFID scanners also helped to speed up admissions at high-volume events such as the World Cup, because they do not need a direct line of sight.
Björn Lidefelt, executive vice-president and head of HID, said: “It is exciting to see our smart ticket solutions help fuel the fan experience for one of the world’s largest and most-watched events.
“Helping bring the world together for an event like the World Cup is what our technology is all about.”
HID has also provided personalisation solutions for the secure tickets, including self-service kiosks for media seat assignment tickets, cabinets for instant issuing with special printers for personalisation on the go, and thousands of handheld scanners along with on-site support.
HID also provided the tournament with an accompanying Event Management Platform (EMP) which will continue to provide real-time data and reporting, enabling security officials and organisers to remotely monitor and manage entry and exit.
Organisers also requested an outer-perimeter access control layer of security checks for each stadium and training field. To support this, HID embedded gates with a UHF booster technology, which serves as a companion device for common UHF readers to enhance the RFID tag reading capacity. Units are integrated within the HID EMP for real-time events tracking and monitoring.
Cesare Paciello, HID’s vice-president of events and mobility solutions for identification technologies, and head of the project, added: “Having real-time data of when ticket holders are going in and out of the perimeter is crucial for event organisers to ensure the best possible experience for fans to accredited people, as well as obtain intelligence as to where a particular gate needs more attention in terms of crowd control and emergency evacuation.”