REUTERS/Mike Blake
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - Iran v New Zealand - Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood, California, U.S. - June 15, 2026 A police officer and members of the FBI are seen during the protest outside the stadium as they take down a drone
While it may sound like a great idea to fly your drone around the 2026 FIFA World Cup to get the best views of the environment and perhaps event catch some game action, perhaps you may want to think twice.
In recent weeks, United States federal agents have seized upward of 300 drones from areas around the World Cup, and the Federal Aviation Administration says pilots who enter restricted World Cup airspace without authorization can face fines of up to $100,000 and potential prison time in addition to the seizure of their aircraft.
In fact, all aircraft, including drones, are banned within three nautical miles of stadiums and up to 3,000 feet above ground during matchdays unless specifically authorized by air traffic control.
Homeland Security Secretary Says Drones Pose Major Threat To World Cup
While the majority of drones seized by U.S. agents were likely just overeager fans hoping to get a unique view of the action, that’s not the way that United States Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin sees it.
“Every one of those had the potential not just to be enthusiasts, but every single one of those has the potential to be a terrorist act, too,” Mullin said during a recent interview
“On the counter-drone measures, everybody’s a little behind,” Mullin said before the tournament began. “Drones are my biggest concern.”
Prior to the tournament, the U.S. spent north of $250 million on counter-drone measures. FEMA awarded the funding to 11 World Cup host states in addition to Washington, D.C., for equipment, software, and training used to detect, track, and disable unauthorized drones.
Clearly, to some degree, that investment has paid off.