FBI Trains Over 60 Agencies on Drone Detection and Interdiction for 2026 World Cup

More than 60 local, county and state law enforcement agencies completed a federal training program to detect and deter unauthorized drones near 2026 World Cup sites. The sessions took place at the FBI training facility at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama.

The program teaches officers to identify potential threats and then decide on responses that can include taking electronic control of a drone or directing it to a safer area.

Mike Torphy, the FBI agent who leads the certification training, said the curriculum first emphasizes judgment before any action. The Federal Aviation Administration sets flight restrictions around the events and limits drone use within a defined radius. Operators who violate those rules face criminal penalties.

The 2026 World Cup begins June 11 in Mexico City and ends July 19 with the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Forty-eight teams will play matches in 16 cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The FBI has identified no credible or specific threats against the tournament, co-Deputy Director Christopher Raia told NBC News.

He said security issues are still expected during the event. “I think there will be some kind of security event,” Raia said. ” Raia added that fans should feel safe attending the games. “This is an all-hands-on-deck for us in order to keep our Americans safe,” he said.

The FBI uses cameras, radars and listening devices that can electronically seize control of an unlawful drone. Unlawful drones can also be forced from the sky when circumstances require. Raia addressed drone enthusiasts near World Cup venues directly.

“With all the capability we have now, we will find you and it will be a very uncomfortable day for you,” he said. ” Raia said law enforcement is prepared for the scale of the tournament, which planners have compared to running dozens of Super Bowls at once. “We are ready,” he said.