US hosts 2026 World Cup with unprecedented security success under FBI leadership

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which was hosted by the United States, has been hailed as a major security success by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). According to FBI Director Kash Patel, the tournament, which is the largest sporting event in history, recorded zero major security incidents. Patel attributed the success to the collaboration between the FBI, President Donald Trump's administration, and federal, state, and local partners. In a statement, Patel said, 'The 2026 FIFA World Cup was the largest sporting event in the history of the world, shattering previous attendance records by double digits. America - we got it done, ZERO major security incidents across our nation while we hosted the equivalent of 78 super bowls in 38 days, along with 40 base camps, endless fan zones, and celebrations in nearly every state.' He also praised President Trump's leadership, saying, 'President Trump promised his administration would deliver the most safe, secure, and fun environment for FIFA. He started by establishing the White House FIFA Task Force some 16 months ago, and we got right to work.' The FBI deployed nearly 5,000 personnel across its headquarters, field, and international offices to support security operations across the tournament's 16 host cities. Patel also highlighted the establishment of multiple coordination centers to facilitate intelligence gathering and information sharing during the competition. The FBI also made significant efforts to counter drone threats during the tournament, establishing the first-ever counter-UAS drone school and seizing over 700 drones near FIFA airspace. Patel concluded by praising the president and partner agencies, saying, 'President Trump's leadership set the course, he led the way, and this FBI and our partners rose to the challenge - thanks to all our partners, @FIFA @DHSgov @WHTaskForceFIFA and their Director Andrew Giuliani.'