---
title: "Major sports event readiness"
description: "Prepare your in-person payments for the influx of international visitors during major international soccer tournaments."
url: "https://docs.adyen.com/industries/major-sports-event"
source_url: "https://docs.adyen.com/industries/major-sports-event.md"
canonical: "https://docs.adyen.com/industries/major-sports-event"
last_modified: "2026-06-01T15:33:16+02:00"
language: "en"
---

# Major sports event readiness

Prepare your in-person payments for the influx of international visitors during major international soccer tournaments.

[View source](/industries/major-sports-event.md)

![World Cup illustration](/user/pages/docs/industries/05.major-sports-event/world-cup-image.png)

The world's biggest soccer stage brings millions of visitors from around the world to host cities. For merchants in these areas, this is a unique opportunity, but also a challenge: you need to accept payments from shoppers who use different payment methods, currencies, and languages than your regular customers.

This guide helps you prepare your in-person payments for major international soccer tournaments. Much of the advice also applies to other international sporting events.

Plan ahead. Some of the recommendations below require time to implement and test. Do not make major changes right before the tournament starts.

## Accept payments from international visitors

### Enable QR code wallets

Many international visitors, especially from Asia, prefer paying with QR code wallets like Alipay, WeChat Pay, or Alipay+ (which supports multiple Asian wallets). These payment methods are easy to add and require no extra hardware.

To get started:

1. [Add QR code payment methods](/point-of-sale/what-we-support/payment-methods/add-payment-methods) to your account.
2. Familiarize yourself with the [QR code payment flows](/point-of-sale/qr-code-wallets).
3. [Test QR code payments](/point-of-sale/testing-pos-payments#testing-qr-code-wallets) before going live.

### Offer Dynamic Currency Conversion

[Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)](/point-of-sale/currency-conversion) lets international shoppers choose to pay in their home currency. This improves the shopper experience and can increase conversion. DCC supports 60+ currencies and requires no extra contract.

### Review your card acceptance

Make sure you accept the major international card schemes that visitors may use:

* Visa, Mastercard, Maestro (global)
* American Express, Diners, Discover, JCB (international)
* China UnionPay (Chinese visitors)

Check your [payment methods](/point-of-sale/what-we-support/payment-methods/manage-payment-methods#view-payment-methods) and activate any that are currently disabled.

## Serve international shoppers

### Terminal language support

Adyen terminals automatically switch the display language based on the shopper's card. This means a visitor from Japan sees Japanese text, while a visitor from Brazil sees Portuguese. No configuration is needed. For the full list, see [supported languages](/point-of-sale/what-we-support/supported-languages#vos-terminals).

### Tax-free shopping

International visitors from outside the EU (or applicable region) may be eligible for VAT refunds. If you work with a tax-free shopping provider like Global Blue, you can [set up tax-free shopping](/point-of-sale/shopper-recognition/tax-free-shopping) with secure card capture to make the refund process easier for your shoppers.

### Tipping

Tipping customs vary by country. Make sure your terminals are configured to [prompt for tips](/point-of-sale/tipping) if this is relevant for your business.

## Ensure reliability during peak times

High foot traffic during match days can strain your network and payment infrastructure. Use an Ethernet connection if possible if you are operating terminals in such areas. Prepare for this:

### Set up cellular failover

If your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection fails, terminals with built-in cellular connectivity can automatically switch to 3G/4G. This keeps payments flowing during network outages. See [cellular failover](/point-of-sale/design-your-integration/network-and-connectivity/cellular-failover).

### Enable offline payments

As a backup, [enable offline payments](/point-of-sale/offline-payment) so your terminals can continue accepting payments even without internet access. Be aware of the risks and limits involved.

### Prepare your hardware

* [Order terminals](/point-of-sale/automating-terminal-management/order-terminals-api) well in advance. Delivery times can be longer during major events.
* Have backup terminals ready and tested.
* Make sure all terminals are on a [supported software version](/point-of-sale/release-updating).
* Fully charge portable terminal batteries.

### Use regional endpoints

If you have a Terminal API integration with cloud communications, use the [regional endpoint](/point-of-sale/design-your-integration/terminal-api#live-endpoints) closest to your stores for the best performance.

## Optimize for high-volume venues

Stadiums and fan zones have unique requirements. Consider these options to speed up transactions and reduce queues:

### Speed up transactions

Contactless payments are significantly faster than chip-and-PIN or cash. Encourage tap payments to reduce queue times during halftime rushes. NFC wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay are even faster since shoppers do not need to find their card.

### Autonomous stores

For merchandise shops or grab-and-go concessions, consider [autonomous stores](/point-of-sale/autonomous-stores). Shoppers tap their card to enter, take items, and leave. The payment is processed automatically without checkout queues.

### Pay at table or seat

Use [Pay at table](/point-of-sale/pay-at-x) to bring portable terminals to customers in hospitality areas or VIP sections. This reduces the need for customers to queue at fixed points.

### Adyen Giving

Let fans donate to charity at checkout. [Adyen Giving](/point-of-sale/donate) adds a donation prompt after payment, turning purchases into contributions. This is popular during major sporting events.

### Pre-authorization for hotels

Hotels expecting an influx of international guests can use [pre-authorization](/point-of-sale/pre-authorisation) to hold funds on a guest's card at check-in, then adjust and capture the final amount at checkout. This works with DCC, so guests can see amounts in their home currency.

## Manage risk and operations

### Monitor for anomalies

International transactions may have different patterns than your usual traffic. Review your [risk profiles](/risk-management/configure-your-risk-profile) to avoid blocking legitimate transactions from international cards.

### Prepare for refunds

A spike in sales means a spike in refunds. [Set up a refund reserve](/account/balances/reserve) to ensure you have sufficient funds to process refunds without delays.

### Know how to get help

* Bookmark the [Adyen status page](https://status.adyen.com).
* Make sure your [contact details](/industries/peak-season/status-and-help#update-your-contact-details) are up to date.
* Know how to [contact Support](/industries/peak-season/status-and-help#contact-our-support-team) if issues arise.

## See also

* [Peak season readiness](/industries/peak-season)
* [Payment methods for in-person payments](/point-of-sale/what-we-support/payment-methods)
* [Dynamic Currency Conversion](/point-of-sale/currency-conversion)
* [Tax-free shopping](/point-of-sale/shopper-recognition/tax-free-shopping)
* [QR code wallet payments](/point-of-sale/qr-code-wallets)
* [Get ready for the world's biggest soccer stage](https://www.adyen.com/knowledge-hub/turn-soccer-traffic-into-revenue)
* [International soccer tournament webinar](https://help.adyen.com/academy/webinars/international-soccer-tournament#watch-on-demand)
