Rogue drones, lone wolf actors and human trafficking rings top the list of concerns of public safety officials overseeing the multilayered security apparatus for the upcoming FIFA World Cup matches in the United States.
The FBI said it is preparing for all possible threats ahead of the quadrennial global competition, which spans 11 host cities across the United States. Venues in Mexico and Canada will also host matches.
Authorities said no potential terrorism plots have been detected in the lead-up to the contests, but they will remain on alert through the final match July 19.
“There are no specific credible threats, but there are always risks, and so again we are remaining vigilant to mitigate against those risks,” Andrew Bailey, FBI co-deputy director, said alongside other law enforcement officials at a media briefing in Miami. His position was created as part of the FBI’s recent leadership restructuring.
The growth in hobbyist and hostile uses for drones since the last World Cup in 2022 drew most of the attention from local, state and federal forces safeguarding the matches.
Officials said the Federal Aviation Administration established a no-fly zone over and around all stadiums.
Any drones or unmanned aircraft systems caught violating that airspace can be “interdicted,” said Aaron Hope, a supervisory special agent in the FBI’s Atlanta field office. Atlanta will host eight matches, including one semifinal on July 15.
Mr. Hope said agents will have equipment that can identify a flying drone and locate its operator on the ground. If necessary, police can shoot down drones deemed a threat.
Officials in other host cities, such as Los Angeles, said that even recreational drone use poses safety problems. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said a hobbyist drone pilot flew his device into a firefighting aircraft last year as crews tried to tame the Palisades wildfire.
Authorities have been clear that consequences will be swift and immediate for those who try to test the no-fly zone.
“The FBI and a select group of law enforcement partners have authority and the capability to intercept and seize drones that violate these restrictions,” said Brett Skiles, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Miami field office. “This includes civil penalties, criminal fines up to $100,000 and up to a year in prison, and a seizure of your drone. And there will be no grace period for violators.”
The World Cup also poses a challenge in terms of scale.
Rep. Dale Strong, the Alabama Republican who chairs the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology, said the tournament could bring Super Bowl-size crowds across the U.S.
Yet American drone defense systems, called counter-UAS, can meet the elevated security demands, Mr. Strong said.
Counter-UAS have been used to disrupt rogue drones during major public events this year, such as the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Miami and the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, Mr. Strong said. He said he is confident in law enforcement’s ability to do the same for the World Cup.
“We understand how to jam, we understand how to block, we understand how to do forensics,” Mr. Strong said. “We’re going to be sure this is safe. They are bad actors everywhere you go throughout this world, and we’re trying to stay one step ahead of the bad actors.”
Special concerns surround some of the international teams visiting for the World Cup — namely, Iran. The U.S. and Iran have been embroiled in an air war for the past three months that started when a joint U.S.-Israeli military strike killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Armed confrontations have slowed as the two sides try to negotiate an end to the conflict, although the Iranian regime’s leadership is known to activate sleeper cells to strike back at its adversaries.
Iran’s national soccer team will play its first three matches on the West Coast, including two in Inglewood, California, just outside Los Angeles.
The city will host eight matches during the competition, including two of the U.S. team’s group stage games to start the Cup. The U.S. and Iran will not play each other unless they meet in the knockout rounds later in the tournament.
Federal and local authorities in Los Angeles did not speak about the potential for sleeper cells during the World Cup. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said police are taking an “all hazards” approach to the Iranian team when they are in Southern California.
“Iran does bring a different dynamic because of the current world events, and so there actually will be additional staffing for some of those game and contingency plans from all the agencies to make sure that we’re prepared for anything that may occur in and around those stadiums or any of the fan zones related to the games with Iran,” Sheriff Luna said.
Officials noted that human traffickers often view large public events as a boon for business.
Patrick Grandy, assistant director of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, said traffickers use the cover of mass gatherings to exploit victims for commercial sex, forced labor or acts of fraud.
Marlo Graham, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Atlanta field office, said trafficking task forces will be on the ground during the matches to spot signs of abuse or if someone appears to be controlled by another person.
Ms. Graham said authorities have identified at least 1,000 human traffickers across the country, and federal agents are working to dismantle those rings during the tournament.
World Cup matches being played in the U.S. will be spread across 11 cities for 78 total games:
• Atlanta, Georgia — June 15, June 18, June 21, June 24, June 27, July 1, July 7 and July 15.
• Boston, Massachusetts — June 13, June 16, June 19, June 23, June 26, June 29 and July 9.
• Dallas, Texas — June 14, June 17, June 22, June 25, June 27, June 30, July 3, July 6 and July 14.
• East Rutherford, New Jersey (New York City) — June 13, June 16, June 22, June 25, June 27, June 30, July 5 and July 19.
• Houston, Texas — June 14, June 17, June 20, June 23, June 26, June 29 and July 4.
• Kansas City, Missouri — June 16, June 20, June 25, June 27, July 3 and July 11.
• Los Angeles, California — June 12, June 15, June 18, June 21, June 25, June 28, July 2 and July 10.
• Miami, Florida — June 15, June 21, June 24, June 27, July 3, July 11 and July 18.
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — June 14, June 19, June 22, June 25, June 27 and July 4.
• Santa Clara, California (San Francisco Bay Area) — June 13, June 16, June 19, June 22, June 25 and July 1.
• Seattle, Washington — June 15, June 19, June 24, June 26, July 1 and July 6.
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