Summary:
- Miami International Airport and CLEAR have launched biometric eGates at two of the airport’s busiest screening checkpoints, enabling faster identity verification for passengers ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026.
- CLEAR+ members can bypass the TSA podium, completing identity verification in under five seconds while still undergoing all required security screening, improving speed and convenience.
- The first-of-its-kind pilot demonstrates a scalable public-private partnership that combines automation, real-time biometrics, and TSA oversight to modernise airport security checkpoints for high-volume events.
Miami International Airport – a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub – and CLEAR have launched biometric eGates at two of the airport’s busiest passenger screening checkpoints ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
With eGates, CLEAR+ members can verify their identity in under five seconds, bypassing the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) podium and proceeding directly to physical screening. This innovation represents a significant leap in modernising security checkpoints with automation.
Automated eGates are designed to provide a scalable and secure solution that expedites the passenger screening experience and enhances security. The innovation builds on the TSA’s efforts to modernise and streamline U.S. airport security checkpoints, with a specific focus on enhancing security, hospitality, and the passenger experience.
This first-of-its-kind pilot represents an innovative public-private partnership that enables TSA to scale identity verification and streamline airport processing just in time for the FIFA World Cup. With more than 20 million international visitors expected to fly to the U.S. for the tournament and domestic travel surging through U.S. host cities, checkpoint infrastructure will face unprecedented pressure.
CLEAR’s eGates are designed to conduct real-time biometric verification, matching a traveller’s facial image with their identity document and boarding pass. TSA retains complete operational control: triggering gate access, conducting security vetting, and enforcing government security requirements. CLEAR transmits only limited data, such as a live photo, boarding pass, ID photo used for enrolment, and identity information. Once identity and clearance are confirmed, passengers proceed directly to physical screening, bypassing the TSA podium while still undergoing all security screening.
