FIFA World Cup 2026: Security planners race to counter drone risks
Key takeaways
- Industry executives and U.S. officials said the threat ranges from careless spectators seeking social media footage to operators conducting surveillance or attempting to disrupt matches.
- “A thousand-dollar drone that’s going 40 to 45 miles per hour could cross two miles in under three minutes,” Swisher said. “By the time somebody sees it, that’s already over.”
- Swisher said the most likely use around the World Cup may be surveillance rather than an aircraft carrying a payload.
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
Add ARY News on Google AAResize LOS ANGELES, June 10: Security planners for FIFA World Cup 2026 are preparing for drones to pose one of the tournament’s most complicated threats, as officials seek to protect stadiums, fan zones, team hotels, training sites and transit routes across multiple U.S. cities and jurisdictions.
Industry executives and U.S. officials said the threat ranges from careless spectators seeking social media footage to operators conducting surveillance or attempting to disrupt matches.
Melissa Swisher, chief revenue officer of SkySafe, a drone-detection and airspace security company, said inexpensive aircraft have “fundamentally changed” security planning for major sporting events because they can enter restricted areas before authorities can react.