Government agencies have seized more than 300 drones near World Cup sites in the United States since the tournament began on June 11, the Transportation Security Administration announced on Tuesday.
Stadiums and surrounding event spaces are a strict “No Drone Zone,” per the Federal Aviation Administration. All aircraft, including drones, are banned on match days within three nautical miles of stadiums and up to 3,000 feet above ground level unless specifically authorized by air traffic controllers.
“The federal government, led by the White House Task Force, and in partnership with FBI, DHS/TSA, FAA, and state/local law enforcement have implemented the most comprehensive airspace security and drone mitigation effort in U.S. history for the FIFA World Cup 2026,” the TSA said in a statement, per Front Office Sports. “Enforcement is swift and proactive.”
Drone operators who enter restricted airspace without approval can face civil penalties up to $75,000 and criminal fines up to $100,000. Violators may face federal criminal charges and immediate arrest. The drones can be intercepted and confiscated.
Front Office Sports reported that federal officials have not released a full breakdown by host cities of the more than 300 seizures, nor total number of arrests or charges. NBC News collected information from the FBI’s Miami field office that 49 drone operators had been ticketed and 54 drones seized in Florida.
There has been no indication that the drones seized carried weapons or were part of planned attacks, per FOS.
The federal government distributed $250 million for counter-drone security ahead of the tournament to 11 World Cup host states and Washington, D.C. The funding is for equipment, software and training used to detect, track and disable unauthorized drones, FOS reported.
–Field Level Media
