FBI readies high-tech drone security for World Cup

Daily News Article   —   Posted on May 19, 2026

(by Alex Caprariello, NewsNation) – There is less than a month to go before the World Cup kicks off, and the FBI is preparing for the security challenges that come with the crowds.

In June, the FBI opened its new National Counter-UAS* Training Center  (*Unmanned Aircraft System) in Huntsville, Ala., where it teaches local law enforcement how to identify and track – as well as “mitigate” – drones, an FBI spokesperson [said]. That includes taking them out of the sky if necessary.

The two-week course has now [trained officers from] 60 local law enforcement agencies from each of the 11 U.S. World Cup host sites, [which will be held from June 11 to July 19].

That includes “hands-on training” and a “capstone field exercises” to build “coordinated counter-drone capability nationwide.”

NewsNation was allowed to walk through the FBI command center but not take cameras inside because some of the high-tech security plans are top secret. In the center, local and state law enforcement officials were working with the FBI to learn how to use drones to protect the airspace.

Each host city will have a command center, where law enforcement can use drones to search for other drones operated by bad actors who might try to enter protected airspace to launch an attack.

Local law enforcement will be joined by officials from FBI field offices and the Secret Service to safeguard the tournament action that stretches 39 days.

The FBI’s drones can be used to disable those drones and protect millions of…soccer fans who are coming to watch their favorite teams play.

The government has been doling out millions to protect against the rising threat. Texas just got another $3.2 million to “mitigate unauthorized or potentially dangerous drone activity” and guard crowds and critical infrastructure for matches in Dallas and Houston.

New York and New Jersey are getting $17 million in drone funds to shield MetLife Stadium – home to 8 matches including the July 19 final that will include performances by Madonna, Shakira and BTS –– plus fan events in the city.

The local law enforcement agencies in the 11 host cities have partnered with the FBI to get the critical training. They will work in teams to monitor the airspace and, if a drone pilot with dangerous intentions enters a no-fly zone, the FBI can hack its electronics, hijack that aircraft and take it away from the stadium.

At the same time, the FBI can deploy what they call good-guy drones, which will circle the pilot and command them to immediately stop what they’re doing before a ground team storms in and makes an arrest.

It is a federal crime to fly a drone in a restricted area, punishable with up to five years in prison for repeated offenses.

The main goal is discreet policing, so fans coming to see their favorite team play won’t notice anything that’s happening behind the scenes to monitor and mitigate threats.

The technology won’t just be used for the World Cup, either, with this kind of security becoming something Americans should expect to see at other major events coming soon, including the Super Bowl and the 2028 Olympics.

Published at NewsNation by Alex Caprariello on May 14, 2026 with excerpts from NY Post by Geoff Earle on May 17. Reprinted here for educational purposes only. May not be reproduced on other websites without permission.