More than 5 million fans are expected to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup taking place this summer across 16 venues in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The stakes are high—and not merely on the pitch.
Experts have warned that heightened terrorism concerns linked to the war in Iran could be used by the Trump administration to justify the deployment of invasive surveillance technologies without adequate safeguards. Moreover, there are concerns that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has an array of advanced surveillance technologies in its arsenal—from face recognition to spyware—could carry out aggressive immigration enforcement during the tournament.
Human Rights Watch, in turn, has urged FIFA to seek an “ICE truce” for the duration of the event, even as ICE’s eventual role remains uncertain.
“Security is often used as an excuse for agendas that have nothing to do with security at all—and in the Trump administration, that often means using surveillance systems to assist in the administration’s abusive and lawless deportation drive,” Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst at the American Civil Liberties Union, tells WIRED.
The ACLU led a coalition of over 120 groups that issued a travel advisory for foreign nationals attending the World Cup in the United States, warning, among other things, of “increased surveillance.” Indeed, the list of surveillance technologies set to be deployed at the tournament is extensive, with drone and counter-drone systems expected to play a leading role.
Fortem Technologies says it inked a “multimillion-dollar” deal with the US Department of Homeland Security to provide its kinetic counter-drone technology for the tournament’s US venues. In addition, Sentrycs has reportedly secured multiple contracts with federal, state, and local agencies to detect and neutralize drones. Axon’s counter-drone technology will also reportedly be deployed at some venues.
In January, DHS announced the launch of a new office specially dedicated to “rapidly procuring and deploying drone and counter-drone technologies,” as well as a $115 million investment in such capabilities to help secure the tournament and the country’s semiquincentennial celebrations. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has also awarded $250 million to the District of Columbia and the 11 states hosting matches through the new Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Grant Program.
“Many types of C-UAS tech focus on disrupting or intercepting radio signals from control devices such as phones,” says Jake Laperruque, deputy director at the Center for Democracy and Technology’s (CDT) Security and Surveillance Project. He adds that “it’s important to have transparency about what if any interception of phone data might be occurring, and how the government will treat such data if it is collected.”
In response to WIRED’s request for comment, a DHS spokesperson says that “federal resources will be deployed alongside the 11 host cities to ensure the security of each match.” The spokesperson adds that the agency is “working around the clock with federal, state, local, and international partners to ensure a safe and secure environment for players, fans, and communities hosting these events.”
AI-driven surveillance is also expected to play a central role during the World Cup.
Boston Stadium is rolling out AI-powered face recognition ahead of the tournament, allowing registered fans to enter the stadium and make purchases using their face. Other World Cup venues deploying similar technologies include Miami Stadium, and Atlanta Stadium.
Moreover, two AI-powered camera-equipped robot dogs will be deployed at the tournament’s International Broadcast Center in Dallas, while another two will be assigned to New York New Jersey Stadium.
In anticipation of the tournament, Kansas City announced last year it would pilot face recognition on local buses.
“The expansion of facial recognition technology ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup reflects a broader global trend of using major sporting events to normalize biometric surveillance in everyday life,” says Clara Lilley, senior digital campaigns officer at Privacy International, which recently published a report on the global deployment of this technology in soccer.
