The Roster Takes Shape
NEW YORK (AP) — The 2026 FIFA World Cup, a 48-team, 104-match tournament kicking off next week across 16 cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada, presents an unprecedented security challenge with a larger footprint than ever before.
The event unfolds against the backdrop of the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran, mounting political violence in President Donald Trump's orbit and growing concerns over artificial intelligence-fueled disruptions. A complex threat environment faces authorities overseeing what officials describe as the largest sporting event in North American history.
The scale is the story here; with 48 teams involved, the calendar starts doing some of the reporting.
"In the U.S., it's 78 Super Bowls over 39 days," said Andrew Giuliani, executive director of Trump's World Cup task force, which is coordinating the multiagency effort. "There's never been a summer like this in American history from a security angle."
The tournament carries the same high-level federal security designation as the Super Bowl, just below a presidential inauguration or national political convention. The Department of Homeland Security estimates up 7 million people will visit the U.S. for the World Cup. So far, Giuliani said, there are no credible threats.
The Margins Are Thin
The Department of Homeland Security, already focused on Trump's immigration enforcement crackdown and recently resolved from a funding lapse, faces additional scrutiny after security breaches and attempts on Trump's life. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told Congress the Secret Service was understaffed by about 860 agents, though officials expressed confidence they can integrate Trump's usual security into the robust World Cup plan.
The FBI has spent two years developing its security plan, incorporating lessons from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and New Year's Eve ball drop in New York. "We prepare for the worst day," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Amit Kachhia-Patel in New York. "And that's how we go into any single event."
Federal Emergency Management Agency has distributed $625 million to the 11 U.S. host cities. An additional $250 million is being directed toward tracking and neutralizing suspect drones, with funding delayed by the department's funding lapse that the Republican administration argued hindered security planning.
Among the greatest concerns are drones. Since the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022, drones have become a prominent weapon in conflicts including Russia's war in Ukraine and Hamas' attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
The Next Test Arrives
"If there is one threat that keeps me up at night, it is from drones," said New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, whose department is partnering with the FBI on drone mitigation. Drones are prohibited over stadiums and fan zones, and Kachhia-Patel said the FBI has a "full suite of options" to thwart incursions.
The growing sophistication of AI videos presents a particular concern, with officials warning that state actors can harness the technology to sow misinformation and panic. On match 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.
Several host cities have turned to private technology. In Dallas, a $120 million tech upgrade will give local police body cameras capable of real-time translations, helping law enforcement communicate with international visitors. Kansas City, Missouri, which is hosting six matches, has contracted with Peregrine Technologies to sift through police data and publicly available information to get ahead of possible conflict.
"We know sports fanaticism around here in terms of the NFL and baseball to some extent, but nothing like international soccer," said Jake Becchina, a police spokesperson in Kansas City.