FBI reports zero major incidents at record 2026 World Cup

Following a month-long tournament that shattered global attendance records, the 2026 FIFA World Cup concluded in the United States with no major security incidents, according to federal officials. FBI Director Kash Patel detailed the unprecedented security measures that protected millions of fans across the three-nation event, calling it the largest sporting event in world history.

The FBI's operation involved nearly 5,000 personnel dedicated to the effort, representing what Director Patel described as the bureau's largest-ever resource commitment for a single event. The planning began approximately 18 months before the tournament with the establishment of a White House FIFA Task Force. This coordination resulted in a unified command structure involving 50 federal agencies and hundreds of state and local law enforcement partners. Officials conducted roughly 300,000 background checks on players, coaches, and accredited personnel.

A central element of the security plan was countering the threat posed by unauthorized drones. The FBI reported seizing more than 700 drones that entered restricted airspace around stadiums and fan zones, with nearly 1,600 more detected. In preparation,...