An intelligence briefing has warned that extremists and criminals could target the 2026 FIFA World Cup now that hundreds of millions of dollars in approved security funding have been delayed and US preparations have lagged.
Previously unreported press conferences from U.S. federal and state officials and FIFA, the international governing body that oversees the World Cup, outlined the risks of extremist attacks, including attacks on transportation infrastructure and civil unrest related to President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
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The Soccer World Cup, one of the world’s biggest sporting events, will be held in June and July this year in three countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Security is always tight at such events, but since the start of the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, U.S. law enforcement officials have been particularly vigilant, raising concerns about threats of retaliation.
Officials preparing for the World Cup in the United States have become increasingly alarmed in recent weeks that $625 million in federal security aid for the tournament, which was part of a Republican-backed spending bill passed in July 2025, has stalled.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is tasked with distributing the funds, said in November that it expected to distribute the funds by Jan. 30 at the latest.
FEMA announced on Wednesday that it had awarded the grant, saying the money would “strengthen security efforts” following a Reuters investigation this month in which officials and organizers complained they had not yet received anything.
With the first games starting June 11 in Mexico, followed the next day in the United States and Canada, states and cities hosting events are hard at work planning, including how to protect themselves from possible attacks. Funding delays and threat warnings have further complicated an already complicated process, multiple sources told Reuters.
The process of distributing grants typically takes months, and purchasing technology and equipment can take even longer, said Mike Sena, president of the National Association of Convergence Centers, which represents a network of 80 clearinghouses across the country that facilitate federal, state and local information sharing.
“It’s going to be a very tough situation,” he said.
A December 2025 intelligence report from New Jersey examined potential threats to games in the state, including the finals, pointing to recent domestic attacks, deranged terrorist plots and rampant extremist propaganda. The report also noted the possibility of spontaneous gatherings related to tensions between countries.
Another intelligence report, dated September 2025, found online postings that appeared to encourage attacks on rail infrastructure during the World Cup, saying there was “ample opportunity for things to go off the rails” and highlighting matches on the U.S. West Coast and Canada. The document was obtained through a public records request by the nonprofit transparency organization Property of the People.
Funding delays raise concerns, but so do ICE’s.
Democrats blame outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for delaying the release of the money. Under Noem’s leadership, DHS last year withheld hundreds of millions of dollars in Homeland Security funds from 12 Democratic-led states and Washington, D.C., and called for tougher immigration enforcement.
In response to a request for comment, White House press secretary Davis Ingle blamed Democrats for the funding delay, citing disagreements over immigration tactics.
“The president is focused on making this the best World Cup in history, making it the safest and most secure tournament in history,” Ingle said in a statement. “Democrats need to stop playing games.”
President Trump’s immigration crackdown has already cast a cloud over the event, raising concerns about the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Since President Trump took office in January 2025, masked immigration agents have rounded up suspected immigration criminals in U.S. cities and detained some tourists at airports.
This is consistent with an overall decline in international travel during the Trump administration, according to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. But early signs point to a continued strong appetite for booking flights and selling tournament tickets.
Analysts at FIFA’s weekly briefing on January 28 warned that anti-ICE operations in US cities in response to immigration crackdowns could lower the barrier to “hostile acts by lone actors and extremist elements.”
President Trump has also imposed full or partial travel bans on nationals of more than 30 countries, including Iran, which is currently in talks with FIFA to move matches to Mexico due to its conflict with the United States. Haiti, Ivory Coast and Senegal, three other countries where President Trump’s fans face travel bans, also qualified for the tournament.
Security concerns extend to 2026 FIFA World Cup fan events
Multiple World Cup and state officials said the “FIFA Fan Festival” event was of particular concern. This event allows large groups of people to watch the game together on an outdoor screen.
A fan festival event planned at Liberty State Park in Jersey City during the tournament was unexpectedly canceled last month and replaced with a smaller gathering.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill said at the time that holding many smaller events would allow more people in the region to enjoy the experience. Security concerns were also factored into the decision, according to people familiar with the planning.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Nellie Pauw, whose district in New Jersey includes MetLife Stadium, one of the venues, said each of the 104 World Cup games is equivalent to a Super Bowl.
“Local governments and local police are definitely going to be overwhelmed,” Pou said. “They need all the money they’re entitled to, and they need it now.”
