Kash Patel tells Fox News how FBI secured World Cup
FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News the agency and partners secured the record-shattering 2026 FIFA World Cup with no significant criminal attacks, deploying nearly 5,000 personnel for 78 U.S. matches and taking down more than 700 unauthorized drones as millions of fans filled stadiums.
In an exclusive Fox News Digital interview, Patel likened the task to "78 Super Bowls in 38 days" — the largest FBI sporting-event security commitment on record, and the first U.S.-hosted World Cup final in more than 30 years.
Key Takeaways
- Patel said there were no significant criminal attacks during the tournament despite 6.5 million attendees at 78 U.S. matches across 11 venues.
- The FBI dedicated nearly 5,000 personnel, ran about 300,000 background checks, and worked with 59 Homeland Security Task Forces.
- Counter-drone teams took down more than 700 unauthorized aircraft after the bureau opened its first dedicated counter-UAS school.
- A White House Task Force under President Donald Trump coordinated federal, state, and local partners across host cities.
- Nearly 7 million fans attended games in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico with no reported major security incidents.
How large was the FBI World Cup security operation?
Patel told Fox News planning had to be "mathematically precise." Roughly 4,000 personnel came from field offices, about 800 from FBI Headquarters and two Legal Attaché offices, plus support from 59 Homeland Security Task Forces.
The bureau ran approximately 300,000 background checks on players, coaches, and other accredited staff. Fans often cleared stadiums in under 15 minutes at games averaging more than 65,000 in attendance.
Across the continental tournament, nearly 7 million fans attended matches in the United States, Canada, and Mexico without reported major security incidents, according to the Fox News report.
Why did drones become a top World Cup threat?
Patel said even low-cost drones could surveil team camps, track hotel movements, probe stadium tactics, disrupt events, or deliver explosives or chemicals. "If you're in the space, we're gonna take you down. And that's why we took down over 700," he said.
The FBI opened its first dedicated counter-UAS school at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama to train state and local officers for ground-intercept teams at venues. Former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino helped build the program, Patel said.
That readiness was tested when investigators uncovered an alleged plot against UFC Freedom 250 at the White House involving explosive-laden drones. Eight defendants have been charged; the allegations remain unproven and defendants are presumed innocent.
How did partners help keep the tournament safe?
The FBI hosted an International Police Cooperation Center in Northern Virginia with more than 70 personnel, plus a Joint Operations Center with foreign police from 46 of 48 participating countries. An Intelligence Coordination Center with more than 400 staff processed about 26 incidents a day and produced nearly 100 intelligence reports.
Patel credited the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup, established by President Trump and led by Andrew Giuliani's team, with unifying agencies. Giuliani later wrote that the effort backed local law enforcement with $625 million and invested $500 million in counter-drone technology, with no major security incidents reported.
Heavy security also kept the Spain-Argentina final free of the pitch invasions that marked the 2014 and 2018 finals. Patel said partnerships helped generate billions in revenue while showcasing America — themes also tracked in our Fintech & Crypto Alerts coverage of big-event markets and risk.
"They wanted not just safety and security, but to show off America to the world," Patel told Fox News. "And I think we did it brilliantly."