World Cup Security Under Strain After $625M U.S. Grant Delay, Intelligence Briefings Warn

Intelligence briefings reviewed by Reuters warn that extremists and criminals could target this summer's World Cup as U.S. preparations were set back by delays in distributing $625 million in approved federal security grants. The tournament — held across the United States, Canada and Mexico in June and July — has drawn heightened vigilance from federal, state and local authorities amid broader geopolitical tensions.

Delays, Awards and a Tighter Timeline

The $625 million in grants were included in a Republican-backed spending bill passed in July 2025. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is responsible for awarding the funds, had previously said it expected to allocate the money by a January deadline. After public inquiries from officials and organizers about the slow rollout, FEMA announced this week that it has awarded the grants and said the funding will "bolster security preparations."

Officials say the timing complicates preparations: grant distribution and procurement of specialized technology and equipment can take months. "It will be extremely tight," said Mike Sena, president of the National Fusion Center Association, which represents a network of state and local intelligence centers that share information with federal agencies.

Threats Identified in Intelligence Briefings

The previously unreported assessments from federal and state officials — and from FIFA, the tournament's governing body — flagged multiple risks, including attacks on transportation infrastructure, lone-actor violence, disrupted terror plots, and potential civil unrest tied to immigration policy. A December 2025 New Jersey intelligence report, for example, warned of recent domestic attacks, disrupted plots and a surge in extremist propaganda ahead of matches to be held in the state, including the final.

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Semi Final - Fluminense v Chelsea - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S. - July 8, 2025 Chelsea and Fluminense fans play football outside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Lee Smith/File Photo

An earlier assessment cited an online post that appeared to encourage attacks on railroad infrastructure during the World Cup, saying there were "plenty of opportunities for us to knock it off the tracks" and highlighting West Coast matches in the U.S. and Canada. Those documents were obtained through public records requests by the transparency nonprofit Property of the People.

Protests and Immigration Enforcement

Briefings also warned that protests and anti-immigration-enforcement activism could create conditions that lower barriers to "hostile actions by lone actors or extremist elements." The articles note growing concern about the visibility of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations under current immigration policies and how that could influence public response at large events.

Concerns Around Fan Gatherings and Local Impact

Officials singled out FIFA Fan Festival events — large open-air public gatherings where fans watch matches — as particularly vulnerable because they draw big crowds to public spaces. A planned long-running Fan Festival at Liberty State Park in Jersey City was canceled and replaced with smaller, dispersed gatherings. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill said smaller events would allow more people to enjoy the matches while reducing some security risks.

U.S. Representative Nellie Pou, whose district includes MetLife Stadium (a match site), emphasized the local demands: "Local government, local law enforcement, will certainly have their hands full. They need every single dollar that they are eligible to receive, and they need it now."

Outlook

With matches beginning in Mexico on June 11 and continuing in the U.S. and Canada the following day, host cities are racing to finalize plans. Officials warned that even with the awarded funds, compressed timelines for purchasing equipment, hiring personnel and coordinating across federal, state and local agencies will leave little margin for error.

Reporting: Ted Hesson in Washington and Kristina Cooke in San Francisco. Editing by Craig Timberg and Rosalba O'Brien.