The Trump administration is racing to finalize counter-drone preparations ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with federal officials warning that unmanned aircraft, not crowd violence or hooliganism, now represent one of the biggest security threats facing the tournament, according to a new report by POLITICO.
Federal, state and local agencies are allegedly still scrambling to deploy drone detection systems, train personnel and implement new counter-drone authorities just weeks before the first U.S. match on June 12 in Inglewood, California. Officials cited equipment shortages, a 76-day Department of Homeland Security funding lapse and confusion surrounding recently expanded legal authorities governing drone mitigation efforts.
