The Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute at Seton Hall University will host a public event titled “Kicking It to 2026 Docuseries Summit: Keeping the Peace Ahead of the 2026 Soccer Tournament” on April 1 in New Jersey. The summit is presented with the independent docuseries “Kicking It to 2026: The Countdown to the Game” and is supported by DailyPay.
This gathering comes as New Jersey prepares for the finals of the 2026 international soccer tournament, an event expected to draw large crowds from around the world. Organizers say the summit will focus on crowd psychology, public safety, and how communities can get ready for such a major sporting event. While aimed at soccer, the discussions are also intended to be relevant for other large gatherings like festivals and public celebrations where managing crowds and safety are priorities.
Clifford Stott, MBE, Ph.D., a professor of policing research at The Open University in the United Kingdom, will deliver the keynote address. Stott is known for his work on crowd psychology at sports events and protests over more than thirty years. He has contributed to strategies for public safety planning and law enforcement in several countries. At this event, he plans to discuss misconceptions about crowd risk and share evidence-based approaches that aim to improve safety, reduce disorder, and encourage cooperation between institutions and communities.
Lori Tarke, DHSc, executive director of the Institute, described why hosting this discussion is important for Seton Hall University: “As a university with NCAA women’s and men’s soccer teams, and academic programs in psychology, policing, sports media and beyond, this event offers students and the broader community a unique opportunity to hear from a global leader in the field. With world championship soccer fever upon us, we are excited to help our communities engage with the moment through this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
The summit also marks a launch point for a larger storytelling project that examines how cities across Mexico, Canada, and the United States are preparing for the upcoming tournament. Director Giovanna Aguilar said: “Kicking It to 2026 looks at how communities are preparing for the global tournament, and this summit is a strong launch point, especially with the finals heading to New Jersey.” Meiling Macias-Toro of Freedom Studios Inc., who serves as executive producer on the docuseries project alongside Candesco Productions and Daltonic Films—not affiliated with FIFA—added: “We are grateful for Seton Hall University’s partnership and DailyPay’s support in bringing this conversation into the docuseries. Independent productions, like sports, thrive on community support.”
Further details about speakers or programming will be released later.
