FBI Flags 3 Million-Visitor World Cup Security Risks as 78 Matches Head to U.S.

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 29

Kash Patel said the FBI is preparing for cyberattacks, drone incursions and lone-wolf violence ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which is expected to draw 3 million visitors across North America.
A special operations center at FBI headquarters is now centralizing threat data, while agents lean on local police and community reporting to spot online radicalization, suspicious chat activity and potential attackers.
Drones rank among the bureau’s top concerns because they can be launched remotely and move quickly; Patel said the FBI has shared drone-disabling technology and training with state and local partners.
The tournament’s scale is driving the buildup: 78 of 104 matches will be played in 11 U.S. host cities, with the rest split between Canada and Mexico.
Patel said the threat picture also includes nation-state adversaries such as China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, alongside a recent rise in antisemitic violence inside the U.S.

Beyond stadiums, how will security agencies counter lone-wolf threats radicalized online from targeting fan zones and public gatherings?

With local police now empowered to disable drones, what prevents misuse of this new authority during the World Cup?