The FBI has seized or neutralized hundreds of drones operating near FIFA World Cup stadiums in the U.S. since the tournament began this month.

This crackdown highlights the security challenges of managing low-altitude airspace during a global sporting event. The presence of unauthorized aircraft poses potential safety risks to spectators and operational disruptions to match schedules.

Law enforcement officials are conducting a wide-scale security operation to prevent illegal or unsafe drone activity around the venues [2], [3]. The scale of the activity has been significant, with some reports stating more than 1,000 drones have been discovered since the start of the 2026 World Cup [5].

Numerical data on the seizures varies across reporting outlets. Some sources said that more than 500 drones have been seized by the FBI [1], [2]. Other reports indicate a different breakdown of the activity, noting that the FBI detected 1,139 drones and neutralized more than 300 of them [4].

The operation focuses on maintaining a secure perimeter around the stadiums to mitigate threats. While the specific nature of the neutralized drones was not detailed, the FBI continues to monitor the airspace as the tournament progresses.

These measures are part of a broader effort to ensure the safety of the event. The agency has not specified if any arrests have been made in connection with the seized devices.

“The FBI has seized or neutralized hundreds of drones operating near FIFA World Cup stadiums.”

The high volume of drone detections suggests a significant gap between public drone ownership and the strict airspace regulations required for mega-events. The discrepancy in seizure and neutralization numbers indicates a complex operational environment where detection does not always lead to immediate physical recovery of the device.