5 July 2026
FBI Seized Over 600 Drones Buzzing World Cup Stadiums
US federal agents have intercepted more than 600 unauthorised drones attempting to fly over World Cup venues, as part of a sweeping tournament security operation.
The FBI has seized more than 600 drones that violated restricted airspace around World Cup stadiums and related fan sites across the United States, according to The Guardian. The scale of the operation reveals the extraordinary security challenge posed by the 48-team tournament being hosted across multiple cities.
Ahead of the competition, the FBI warned that breaching temporary flight restrictions around match venues could result in civil fines of up to 75,000 dollars, criminal fines of up to 100,000 dollars, up to a year in prison, and the confiscation of any drone involved. Despite those warnings, the agency has been kept busy throughout the tournament enforcing those rules.
The Guardian reports that the FBI deployed advanced specialist drone mitigation teams using technology to monitor, track and intercept unauthorised aircraft near restricted zones. The agency has kept the precise methods it uses to take control of or identify drone operators closely guarded.
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