The United States government has warned football fans against the use of drones at FIFA World Cup matches and related events during the 2026 tournament.
The warning was issued by the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, as part of heightened security measures ahead of the competition which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
According to the FAA, all World Cup stadiums and surrounding event locations have been designated as strict “No Drone Zones,” with temporary flight restrictions to be enforced during match days and official fan activities.
The agency said unauthorized drones would be prohibited within a three-nautical-mile radius and up to three thousand feet above stadiums hosting matches, while fan event locations would also have restricted airspace.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said authorities would take swift enforcement action against violators, stressing that the agency was using every available tool to protect the airspace during the tournament.
The FAA warned that violators could face fines of up to one hundred thousand dollars, confiscation of drones and possible federal criminal prosecution.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, also confirmed that it would deploy drone mitigation teams around stadiums and fan zones to monitor and intercept unauthorized drone activity if necessary.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is scheduled to run from June eleventh to July nineteenth and will feature an expanded forty-eight team format.
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