The FBI has announced that specialized counter-drone teams are ready to protect the Dallas-Fort Worth area from drone threats during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The teams will be deployed to detect, assess, and remove drones that enter restricted airspace around World Cup events.

Local Angle

The World Cup will be hosted in North Texas, with events taking place in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The FBI’s counter-drone teams will work alongside local law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of fans and participants.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has described drones as a significant security concern for the World Cup. The FBI has demonstrated its counter-drone capabilities at a media event, showing how agents can electronically take control of a drone and steer it away from a stadium.

Security Measures

The FBI will have temporary flight restrictions in place around World Cup venues, including a three-mile radius around the Dallas Stadium in Arlington and a one-mile radius around the FIFA Fan Festival at Fair Park. Pilots who violate these restrictions could face fines of up to $100,000 and up to one year in prison.

The FBI has also trained local law enforcement officers in the use of counter-drone technology. Some Dallas police officers have been trained by the FBI and will work alongside federal agents to protect the airspace around Fair Park.

The FBI’s counter-drone training center, which opened last year, has trained local law enforcement officers from the 11 World Cup host cities. The center provides training on the use of counter-drone technology and tactics for responding to drone threats.

Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.