FBI screens 300,000 people as World Cup security ramps up
What's new: The bureau is treating drones as a top threat and has trained 70 local officers in host US cities.
The FBI is mounting what Director Kash Patel called one of the biggest security operations in its history as the 2026 World Cup opens June 11 across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The bureau is handling 300,000 background checks for players, coaches and other personnel, while state and local agencies cover security outside venues and assist with counter-drone work. Patel said three million visitors, heads of state and threats ranging from terrorism to cartels make the tournament unusually complex. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security are also running a joint operations center with police from 46 of the 48 participating countries, excluding Iran and Haiti, to share real-time threat intelligence.