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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Jake Offenhartz,Michael R. Sisak and Rebecca Santana

The World Cup poses an unprecedented security challenge at a fraught moment. Is the US ready?

WCup Security Soccer - (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The World Cup, a 48-team, 104-match behemoth kicking off next week across 16 cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada, presents an unprecedented security challenge, with more countries, games and a larger footprint than ever before.

It also comes against the backdrop of the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran, mounting political violence in President Donald Trump's orbit and growing fears of artificial intelligence-fueled disruptions, creating a complex threat environment for authorities.

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