The World Cupa colossus of 48 teams and 104 games that begins next week in 16 cities in USA, Mexico and Canada, poses an unprecedented security challenge, with more countries, more parties and a larger territorial footprint than ever.
It also comes against the backdrop of the US and Israel against Iranthe increase in political violence in the president’s environment donald trump and growing fears of AI-driven disruptions, creating a complex threat environment for authorities.
Oversight of the extensive security apparatus falls to a legion of federal agencies, state and local police departments and private entities. Their responsibilities range from securing stadiums and fan zones to escorting teams and protecting dignitaries.
Their tools include hunting drones that can shoot nets over objects in restricted airspace, robot dogs that inspect bags, giant X-ray trucks, and thousands of cameras powered by artificial intelligence (AI) focused on public spaces that will soon be crowded with fans.
In the United States, there are “78 Super Bowls in 39 days,” he stated. Andrew Giulianiexecutive director of Trump’s World Cup task force, which oversees the multi-agency effort.
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“There has never been a summer like this in American history from a security standpoint,” said Giuliani, son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
“We are as prepared as we can be.”
An unprecedented security collaboration
The tournament has the same high-level federal security designation as the Super Bowl, just shy of a presidential inauguration or a national political convention, ensuring federal, state and local coordination. It coincides with other major events tied to the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
So far, Giuliani said, there are no credible threats.
He Department of Homeland Security (DHS), focused on Trump’s offensive to strengthen immigration enforcement and hit by a funding gap that was only recently resolved, It is estimated that up to 7 million people will visit the United States for the World Cup.
He United States Secret Serviceunder scrutiny after security failures and attempts on Trump’s life, is in charge of protecting world leaders who come to cheer on their countries. Trump has expressed interest in attending a game.
“I feel very comfortable with where we are, and we feel that we have a zero-fail mission,” Secretary of Homeland Security said this week in a congressional hearing. Markwayne Mullinnoting that the Secret Service had a shortfall of approximately 860 agents. “But it’s going to be complicated.”
He Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has spent two years developing its security planincorporating lessons from other big events like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and New Year’s Day in New York, and trying them out at smaller ones, including the Israel Day Parade last week.
“We prepare for the worst day. And that’s how we deal with any event,” he told The Associated Press the special agent in charge of the FBI in New York, Amit Kachhia-Patel.
To help cover security costs, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has distributed $625 million to 11 host cities in the United States. Another $250 million goes to tracking and neutralizing suspicious drones.
The disbursement of those funds was delayed by a delay in funding the department, which the Republican administration has argued hampered security planning.
Others involved in the planning effort noted that the federal government could have played a more direct role even before the shutdown.
John Cohena DHS official who has been briefing state leaders before the games, said: The government was largely absent from planning meetings last year and did not begin sharing threat intelligence with host regions until recently..
“With an event of this magnitude, one would hope that the federal government would have played a more active role,” Cohen said. “It felt like a missed opportunity to show that collaboration.”
Changing threats from drones and AI
In January, thousands of officials involved in World Cup security gathered for exercises simulating crowd avalanches, vehicle attacks and mass shootings.
A month later, the United States and Israel started a war with Iran.
“The security landscape has fundamentally changed,” said Stefano Ritondale, director of intelligence at Artorias, a defense intelligence firm not involved in security preparations. “There is a big difference between preparing for a lone radical who rams his car into a public place and a terrorist financed by a foreign country with which we are at war.”
Among the biggest concerns are drones.
Since the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022, drones have become a prominent weapon in conflictsincluding Russia’s war in Ukraine and Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
“If there is a threat that keeps me up at night, it is drones”stated New York City Police Commissioner, Jessica Tischwhose department is partnering with the FBI to mitigate drones.
Drones are prohibited over stadiums and fan zones, and Kachhia-Patel noted that the FBI has a “full set of options” to thwart incursions. They include agents who monitor the sky and a “variety of means” to safely take down the devices, he explained without elaborating.
On game days, the FBI will activate joint operations centers in each host city, bringing together local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to monitor and investigate threats.
A scoring opportunity for private technology
Some AI companies have presented themselves to police departments in host cities, promising to analyze data and surveillance on game days to prevent threats.including undisciplined amateur behavior.
The Kansas City, Missouri police department has hired Peregrine Technologies, which promises to filter police data and publicly available information, such as team training locations and the national affiliation of popular bars, to stay ahead of potential conflicts.
In Dallas, a recent $120 million technology upgrade will provide local police with body cameras capable of real-time translationwhich will help law enforcement communicate with international visitors who will soon arrive in the region.
Additionally, several drone detection and mitigation companies are joining efforts to help federal agencies secure the skies.
“If we do our job well,” Giuliani added, “no one will be talking about security at the World Cup.”