The Washington administration has provided $250 million to 11 state authorities for measures to counter unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to a statement released by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, APA reports.
As specified in the document, the agency "allocated $250 million in grants to 11 states hosting matches" of the World Cup, as well as to the US National Capital Region. The statement emphasizes that "recipients can use these funds to develop capabilities to detect, identify, track, and counter drones."
Agency representatives believe that "in recent years, criminals, terrorists, and hostile foreign actors have increased their use" of drones. "We knew we needed to act quickly to ensure security at the World Cup due to the growing UAV threat, and we did just that," the agency representative noted, referring to the allocation of the funds. The Washington administration is expected to provide an additional $250 million to state governments in 2026 to counter drone threats.
The 2026 World Cup will be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States from June 11 to July 19. For the first time, 48 teams will participate. The Russian national team has been suspended from international tournaments since February 2022.
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