The hundreds of millions of federal dollars that 2026 FIFA World Cup host states have used to acquire counter-uncrewed aircraft system (C-UAS) technology—from drone-catching nets to radio signal takeover devices—are being put to good use, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
The TSA said Tuesday that federal air marshals have seized more than 300 drones during World Cup events since the tournament began on June 11. The FBI’s Los Angeles field office confirmed that figure to the Washington Examiner on Monday, telling the outlet it seized 34 drones over the City of Angels. The agency’s Philadelphia field office told the Examiner it has recovered 42 drones since matches began at Lincoln Financial Field, and the Newark field office reported six seizures over MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
In addition, the FBI’s Dallas field office on Monday reported 39 seizures since June 11, and its Miami field office said it confiscated 54 drones within the FAA-enforced “no drone zones” around venues, ticketing 49 operators.
A spokesperson for the FBI’s national press office told FLYING that the nationwide 300 figure will soon be updated.
The FAA established temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) during World Cup match days for all aircraft, extending 3,000 feet above ground level within a 3 nm radius of the 11 host stadiums. Additional TFRs are in effect up to 1,000 feet within 1 nm of 12 fan fest locations. Drone pilots can view the latest restrictions via notices to airmen, B4UFLY apps, or the agency’s Sporting Event Automated Monitoring System (SEAMS).
Violators face up to $100,000 in fines, federal criminal charges, and the seizure of their drone or remote pilot certification. However, the FAA has since clarified that legitimate drone operators—such as commercial delivery services—can fly within the TFRs with prior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) approval.
The TFRs permit the use of deadly force against drones that are believed to pose an imminent security threat. At the same time, authorities are permitting Sky Elements to debut a drone scoreboard in the sky over Seattle’s Lumen Field.
The FAA in May said it would use its Drone Expedited and Targeted Enforcement Response (DETER) framework to prosecute drone violations at the World Cup. In essence, DETER levies fines and revokes certifications for violators who may have otherwise faced only lower level compliance actions.
A spokesperson for the FBI’s Los Angeles field office told FLYING that its drone seizures have resulted in citations, and violators will need to either pay a fine or fight the charges in court.
Why Drones Are in the Spotlight
The FBI in April investigated a string of drone incursions during Major League Baseball (MLB) games at Colorado’s Coors Field, the latest in what has become a chronic issue for professional sports leagues.
The NFL in 2025 revealed that it has recorded more than 2,000 drone incursions into the TFRs around its stadiums in each of the league’s past three seasons, with the figure rising each year. It joined MLB and other leagues in backing the Safer Skies Act, which was implemented in December and extended C-UAS capabilities reserved for federal agencies to state and local law enforcement.
The incursions have not been limited to sporting events. Federal officials in March said that several unauthorized drones overflew the military base housing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and State Secretary Marco Rubio. This month, the FBI alleged that explosive-laden drones were part of a foiled plot targeting the White House’s UFC Freedom 250 event.
Douglas Olson, the FBI senior coordinating official on the White House’s World Cup task force, testified in April that drones are “one of the most significant safety concerns” for the tournament. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through its C-UAS Grant Program allocated $250 million to the 11 World Cup host states and National Capital Region.
That initiative has been bolstered with $115 million from a new office within DHS, as well as $100 million from Joint Interagency Task Force 401, a group coordinating C-UAS efforts across the federal government.
Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House’s World Cup task force, this month told ABC News that all 78 matches happening in the U.S. will have C-UAS technology in place. This includes drone-based net systems designed to capture other drones, signal jamming capabilities, and fixed or portable radars and antennas for passive detection.
FEMA in fiscal year 2027 will allocate an additional $250 million for all U.S. states and territories to acquire C-UAS systems.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has approved Aerovironment’s Locust anti-drone laser—which uses a directed energy beam to disable drones—for testing in five locations. Earlier tests of the laser prompted airspace closures in Texas due to a reported lack of communication between the Pentagon and FAA.