Federal authorities have intercepted more than 50 unauthorized drones near FIFA World Cup 2026 venues since the tournament kicked off last week, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced Thursday.
On Wednesday alone, a joint federal and city counter-drone team in Kansas City stopped eight drones during World Cup events at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium and the FIFA Fan Festival. The Federal Aviation Administration has placed a strict ban on drone flights over World Cup matches and related fan gatherings throughout the United States.
According to the Homeland Security Department, there have been more than 150 separate instances of drones entering restricted airspace across the eight game locations involved in the tournament. Atlanta has seen the highest concentration of violations, recording roughly three dozen incidents on its own.
The rules are clear: on match days, all aircraft — including drones — are prohibited within three nautical miles and up to 3,000 feet above ground level around stadiums, unless specifically cleared by air traffic controllers. For fan events held around the country, drones are banned within a one-nautical-mile radius and up to 1,000 feet above the ground.
The FAA has warned that drone operators who fly into restricted airspace without authorization could face fines as high as $100,000, as well as criminal prosecution and permanent seizure of their drone.
The FBI has also deployed drone mitigation teams that will be positioned around World Cup stadium locations throughout the tournament.
These enforcement efforts come after a string of similar incidents at other major events. A man pleaded guilty last year after being charged with flying a drone over a restricted NFL AFC playoff game in Baltimore in January 2025. In another case, a Massachusetts man was charged with unlawfully piloting a drone near the finish line of the April 2024 Boston Marathon, leading law enforcement to seize the device while it was still airborne.
