FBI Director Kash Patel said federal officials are preparing for a wide range of security threats ahead of the 2026 World Cup, including cyberattacks, drones and potential lone-wolf violence.
The tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, with millions of visitors expected across North America.
Officials estimate that roughly three million people could travel for the tournament.
Out of 104 total matches, 78 are scheduled to be played in the United States, while the remaining games will be split between Canada and Mexico.
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Patel said the FBI is working with state, local and international partners to identify possible threats before the tournament begins.
He said the bureau’s security effort includes traditional law enforcement work, community outreach, intelligence gathering and digital threat monitoring.
One major concern is the possibility of lone-wolf attacks.
Patel said the FBI is relying heavily on local law enforcement and community partners to identify suspicious behavior, online threats and signs of radicalization.
He said officials are also monitoring cyber threats, including hackers who may attempt to target infrastructure, steal data or hold systems hostage for ransom.
To help manage incoming intelligence, the FBI has created a special operations center at its headquarters to centralize threat information related to the tournament.
Patel identified China, Russia, Iran and North Korea as major nation-state concerns, but said independent actors and lone-wolf threats remain among the most difficult to detect.
Drone threats are another major focus.
Patel said drones can move quickly, vary widely in size and may be controlled by operators far from the target area.
The FBI has been training state and local partners on how to detect and respond to drone threats during major events.
Patel also said the bureau has technology capable of disabling problem drones in midair and has shared training with local law enforcement agencies.
Federal officials are also watching domestic extremist threats and rising antisemitic violence.
Patel pointed to recent attacks and plots as examples of why the FBI is focused on early detection and coordination before large public events.
The bureau says it has made major arrests under the Trump administration as part of a broader crackdown on violent offenders and high-priority fugitives.
The World Cup will present one of the largest security challenges in recent U.S. history because of the number of cities, venues, visitors and international teams involved.
For the FBI, the goal is to prevent threats before they reach stadiums, fan zones, transportation systems or public gatherings.
Why It Matters
The 2026 World Cup will bring millions of visitors and global attention to North America. Patel’s comments show that federal officials are treating the tournament as a major national security operation, with concerns extending beyond stadium security to cyber systems, drones and online radicalization.
What Comes Next
The FBI is expected to expand coordination with local police departments, host cities and international partners as the tournament approaches. More security training, drone-response planning and cyber monitoring are likely in the months ahead.
Patel said the FBI has developed technology to disable drones in mid-flight as part of security preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
FBI Director Kash Patel on precautions being taken against drone attacks during the World Cup: We also have developed technology to disable the drones mid-flight, that is one of our critical pieces of equipment that we have given to our state and local partners. pic.twitter.com/wkbtpVqPgD
— Acyn (@Acyn) May 28, 2026
