All 78 U.S. World Cup Matches Will Have Counter‑Drone Protection. White House World Cup Task Force head Andrew Giuliani told ABC News that every match and one fan fest per host city will have counter‑drone coverage. Measures include jamming, detection systems and other mitigation tools; recent legislation and FBI training enable local police to deploy those measures. The FBI also says it disrupted an alleged drone plot near the White House and has five people in custody.
White House Official: Counter‑Drone Systems Will Protect All 78 U.S. World Cup Matches
Rebecca Blackwell/AP Photo - PHOTO: Andrew Giuliani, head of the The White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026, speaks to the press during a briefing, June 4, 2026, in Miami, about security for the World Cup soccer tournament.
All 78 FIFA World Cup matches held in the United States will be protected by counter‑drone systems, a White House official told ABC News, as authorities increase security measures in response to recent alleged drone threats.
What Officials Announced
Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House World Cup Task Force, said that every match in the United States and one fan fest in each host city will have counter‑drone mitigation coverage. "All 78 of the matches in the United States of America have counter drone mitigation protection, and every fan fest, one fan fest in every single city throughout the duration of the World Cup will have counter‑drone mitigation coverage," Giuliani said.
What Counter‑Drone Measures Mean
Counter‑drone capabilities can include electronic jamming to disable or force down a drone, radar and radio detection systems to spot unmanned aircraft, and other defensive measures designed to protect crowds and critical infrastructure. Giuliani said work began last year to brief and train local police departments on drone threats.
Training, Legislation and Local Involvement
Giuliani said recently enacted legislation allows local law enforcement agencies to deploy mitigation tools and receive training from federal partners, including the FBI. He credited measures put in place by the White House for enabling the local response.
Investigation Update: Alleged Plot Near White House
The FBI said it disrupted an alleged drone plot tied to a UFC event near the White House that reportedly involved explosive‑capable drones intended to target buildings in the area. FBI Director Kash Patel told ABC News law enforcement became aware of the plot on June 10, the Wednesday before the event, and praised the "rapid action" of a multi‑state operation. As of Tuesday morning, five people were in custody in connection with the investigation.
The FBI offices in Miami and Atlanta also reported seizing a combined 35 recreational drones near World Cup venues, according to posts on their official social accounts.
Giuliani: "You're welcome, drones are not welcome ... so don't fly your drones."
Officials say the combined approach—detection, mitigation capabilities, local training and federal coordination—is intended to reduce the risk posed by malicious or reckless drone activity during high‑profile events such as the World Cup.
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