US Authorities Seize More than 600 Drones Near 2026 World Cup Stadiums

Illustration of FBI officers with drones (Twitter @FBI)

JAKARTA - US agencies have seized more than 600 drones near the stadium hosting the 2026 World Cup matches and fan zones since the start of the tournament on June 11, the Transportation Security Administration said on Monday.

On match day, all aircraft operations, including drones, are prohibited within a three-nautical-mile radius and up to 3,000 feet (914 meters) above ground level around the stadium unless specifically authorized by air traffic controllers.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said the drones had been seized from restricted airspace in 11 host cities in the US, Al Arabiya reported from Reuters (7/7).

The FBI said about 130 drones have been seized in Miami alone, and more than 70 in Dallas during the five games.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) itself has banned drones from flying over matches and related fan gatherings across the United States.

At fan meetings, drones are prohibited within a one-nautical-mile radius and up to 1,000 feet above ground level.

Drone operators who enter restricted airspace without authorization can face fines of up to $100,000, along with criminal charges and seizure of their drones, the FBI said.

The FBI has a team stationed around the World Cup stadium to detect and disable unauthorized drones.

Cristobal Torres Alvarez, a 40-year-old Mexican national, was last week charged with flying a drone in the restricted airspace around Dallas Stadium ahead of the match.

In 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to improve US defenses against drone threats, and the Department of Homeland Security has installed new anti-drone defense systems on the US-Mexico border in Texas.

There have been numerous drone incidents in previous years at major sporting events in the US.

In 2025, a man pleaded guilty after he was charged with violating the air defense zone by flying a drone at a National Football League playoff game in Baltimore.