By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- Federal and local law enforcement officials held a press conference in downtown Los Angeles on June 1, 2026, to outline security measures for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
- Drone restrictions will be enforced above all World Cup venues, with dedicated teams deployed to detect and neutralize unauthorized aircraft.
- FBI Assistant Director Patrick Grandy warned that violators of restricted airspace could face fines exceeding $100,000, drone confiscation, and federal charges.
- Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna stated that law enforcement personnel have been training for more than a year in crowd control and counterterrorism tactics, including international exercises.
- Officials also confirmed there will be no immigration enforcement by ICE at World Cup venues, per guidance from the local head of the Department of Homeland Security.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Federal and local law enforcement officials announced Monday that flight restrictions will be enforced above all 2026 FIFA World Cup venues in the Los Angeles area, with specialized teams on standby to identify and disable unauthorized drones during the tournament.
The announcement came during a June 1 press conference in downtown Los Angeles, where officials from the FBI Los Angeles Field Office, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office detailed the multi-agency security framework in place for the event. The World Cup is scheduled to run from June 11 through July 19, spanning 16 host cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with 48 teams competing in 104 matches.
Patrick Grandy, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, identified unauthorized drone activity as a primary security concern. Grandy stated that operators flying in restricted zones could face fines in excess of $100,000, confiscation of their equipment, and federal criminal charges. He described improper drone use as posing potentially deadly risks to aircraft and to individuals on the ground, and encouraged pilots to check active airspace restrictions before operating any devices during the tournament. Grandy declined to specify the methods that would be used to disable drones, but said any takedowns would be conducted away from crowds.
Grandy also cautioned that large-scale events such as the World Cup can attract human trafficking activity, and urged the public to report any individuals who appear to be under another person’s control or showing signs of abuse.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said agency personnel have been training for the tournament for well over a year, with some officers conducting exercises in other countries, covering crowd management and counterterrorism preparedness. The opening match is scheduled for June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, when the United States faces Paraguay.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said prosecutors would work alongside law enforcement partners to address counterfeit ticket sales, drunk driving, fights, and hate crimes during the event. On the question of immigration enforcement, Sheriff Luna said the local head of the Department of Homeland Security had indicated there would be no ICE enforcement actions at World Cup venues, and cautioned that any such activity would create significant operational challenges for public safety agencies.