The 2026 FIFA World Cup is a good example of an efficient event supply chain.

This refers to the entire supply chain required to deliver goods and equipment to the right location, in full and on time. With a tight schedule, temporary space requirements, international procurement and a complex post-event exit strategy, a highly coordinated collaboration between freight forwarders, customs clearance, warehousing and distribution logistics is essential:

Logistics service providers must build up warehouse capacity at short notice and coordinate transport chains. Flexible lease agreements and access to logistics warehouses available at short notice are crucial in this regard.

Shippers are under time pressure – production adjustments, goods consolidation and storage near the event venues must take place within a specific time window to ensure successful execution, and international customs and import requirements must also be clarified at an early stage.

Local authorities become temporary logistics hubs. Such events provide a significant economic boost, create jobs and attract tourists. At the same time, they can quickly push infrastructure and the availability of commercial space to their limits. With forward-looking planning, including reserve space that can be mobilised at short notice, major events become a strategic locational advantage.

In regions hosting major events, investors stand to benefit from attractive returns on logistics property. Major events temporarily boost demand for logistics space and drive up rents, whilst their regular occurrence also helps to stabilise the valuation trends of these assets.