LEESBURG, United States: World Cup drone detections have reached 1,139 at tournament-related sites, with more than 300 neutralised, White House tournament official Andrew Giuliani said Monday.
Giuliani gave the figures at the Federal Bureau of Investigation-organised International Police Cooperation Centre near Washington.
He said authorities neutralised the drones without force. Doug Olson, the FBI special agent coordinating security for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, said the bureau had seized more than 500 drones for processing as evidence.
The United States has made counter-drone operations a central part of security for the 48-team tournament.
Read: World Cup Drone Ban Set For 2026 US Matches
The U.S. is co-hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026 with Mexico and Canada. Washington has committed several hundred million dollars to counter-drone efforts.
Local authorities in the 11 U.S. host cities can use expanded powers to jam and intercept drones. Dozens of local police officers have received specialised counter-drone training at an FBI training centre.
In mid-June, the FBI said it foiled a planned attack targeting a mixed martial arts event at the White House on President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. The alleged plot involved drones carrying explosives.
During the 2024 Paris Olympics, French authorities detected more than 350 drone incursions and made 81 arrests, according to a French National Assembly report.
