FBI official says agency prepared to secure 2026 FIFA World Cup

An FBI official said the agency has spent months preparing to provide security for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the official described as the largest sporting event ever staged in the United States.

The official said the tournament’s scale — 48 national teams, 104 matches across 11 host cities, millions of international visitors and billions watching worldwide — creates both a "huge challenge" and an opportunity to demonstrate U.S. capabilities. "This is more than just security—this is about protecting America's legacy on the world stage," the official said.

The official said the FBI is "one of the lead security agencies for the games" and that its offices across the country "have been preparing for months to keep World Cup players, fans, and visitors safe." The statement said the agency is applying the same expertise it uses for other large events, citing work on the Super Bowl, F1, the Milan Winter Olympics and the Kentucky Derby.

The official described active coordination "in all the host cities" with local, state and international partners, saying agencies are "sharing information, planning for emergencies, and coordinating across agencies to make sure the matches run smoothly." The statement emphasized information-sharing and joint planning rather than listing operational details or specific security deployments.

From the opening ceremony through the final match, the official said the goal is simple: "to keep the FIFA World Cup 2026 a safe unforgettable celebration for everyone." No new policy announcements, budget actions or formal directives were included in the statement.

The remarks were a public briefing-style announcement of readiness and coordination; the agency did not provide a timetable for further public updates in the transcript.