Security at Women's World Cup not like it was for the men's tournament

For American fans, the Women's World Cup has been a fabulous tournament: hospitable cities, drivable distances from the U.S., mild summer weather, and a string of wins for the U.S. It's easy to notice how comfortable the entire event has been.

But is it too comfortable? Security at the venues has been less stringent than anything fans will encounter at an NFL stadium, and certainly more relaxed than at the men's World Cup or at the Olympics.

"Pretty easy," said John Weaver of West Lafayette, Indiana, who was in Ottawa for the U.S. quarterfinal match against China. "Slipped right through. We didn't have anything checked."

There was a bag check at the Ottawa venue, but fans weren't ushered through metal detectors, and the use of the electronic wand has been intermittent.

"This would be a bad situation for terrorism," Weaver said.

Part of the reason for the less stringent security is the nature of the event. "If you held a men's World Cup in Canada, it would be a lot different," FIFA director of World Cup 2015 security Thomas Gerstenecker told Yahoo Sports on Tuesday. "There would be a lot more federal and provincial participation. Your budget is going to be much more. The participation and role of host country authorities is going to be much more."

Gerstenecker said if this was a men's World Cup, the protocol would be "full mag, full bag," meaning every single fan would be wanded and every single bag would be checked, whereas in the women's event, the wand use is based on an undisclosed random system of choosing who to flag.

"When you go into the men's World Cups, it's another dynamic," he said. "You're going to have a more adult-based audience. With the women's Cup, you're going to get lots of young girls. The whole dynamic is different. And there's a lot less alcohol consumed."

The other factor is that Canada is safer overall than a country like Brazil, for example. But this nation has had security threats as well, including the tragedy of the killing of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo last October as he stood guard by the War Memorial only a few minutes' walk from where the U.S. team stayed last week.

"I'm from Baltimore, and they're stricter there," said Juan Gonzalez, dressed up in U.S.A. gear for the quarterfinal match. "At a Ravens game, you get wanded and frisked."

Neither Gonzalez nor his friend, Anthony Liquori, said they were checked for anything nefarious. Though both said they believe the NFL bag rule has conditioned fans to leave large items at home.

Gerstenecker said even though some fans are not wanded, every security official has the ability to check someone who stands out in a troubling way, like for example a fan who is wearing many layers on a hot day.

"If someone's coming in with T-shirt, shorts and no bag, we use common sense as well," Gerstenecker said.

The benefit is a less stressful setting. The atmosphere at the venues almost seems like pre-9/11, if such a feeling is ever possible anymore. Security has been more of a protocol than an ordeal. And nearly all fans have been seated in plenty of time for kickoff.

"It probably should be tougher," Weaver said of the security in place. "But as a fan, I like it better this way."

Still, the precautions prioritized by venue officials have been a bit curious. Concessionaires insist on twisting off the tops of bottles of soda and water so that fans won't throw them onto the field. Yet the sharp points on the top of team flags that fans bring in have been largely unchecked. Weaver said he saw some fans instructed to take the arrow-shaped ornaments off their flags, while others walked in without any issue.

The vibe will change this week, as the semifinal games will get heightened security and the final will get the highest standards of the tournament – much more akin to an NFL game.

In the moments leading up to the U.S. match against China, dozens of fans gathered around the security checkpoint to look up at the mammoth screen and watch the end of the Germany vs. France quarterfinal. Fans walked into the venue and stopped to join the scene. It was a fun setting – the kind of gathering that makes an event enjoyable even before kickoff.

Most in the growing crowd probably didn't give security concerns a second thought. That's either the result of a welcoming and largely peaceful nation, a thoughtful and nonintrusive plan, or a month's worth of good fortune.

It's likely a combination of all three.