How AI and drones will secure the 2026 World Cup

The 2026 World Cup begins next week, spanning 16 host cities across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. With 48 teams, 104 matches, and 39 days of competition, this edition is the largest ever. It is also the most technologically monitored sporting event in history, featuring robot dogs, net-shooting hunter drones, and thousands of AI-powered cameras patrolling stadiums and fan zones.

“It’s 78 Super Bowls over 39 days,” said Andrew Giuliani, executive director of Trump’s World Cup task force. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has allocated $625 million to the 11 U. S. host cities, with an additional $250 million reserved for tracking and neutralizing suspicious drones.

Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot dogs are now on patrol at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as part of a “Security Spot” initiative led by Hyundai, the company’s owner. Hyundai says it is deploying “its largest and most advanced mobility fleet to date,” making it the first official robotics partner for the tournament. The robots are tasked with inspecting suspicious packages and hazardous materials.

Social media quickly buzzed with concerns that the quadrupedal machines could be scanning faces. Boston Dynamics told Chron that the robots “do not have facial recognition capabilities.” Still, the sight of robotic security patrols at a major sporting event drew comparisons to the dystopian Black Mirror episode “Metalhead.”

Mexico is taking a similar approach, deploying four robot dogs named K9-X across its three World Cup venues. Officials told Wired that the robots will intervene in fights or drunken incidents to protect officers. The manufacturer and technical specifications have not been disclosed.

Drones remain the top security concern. “If there is one threat that keeps me up at night, it is from drones,” said New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. Drones are banned over stadiums and fan zones. Counter-drone technology has become one of the fastest-growing sectors in defense, and the FBI says it has a “full suite of options” to stop incursions.

One of those options comes from Fortem, which claims to have signed a multimillion-dollar contract with the Department of Homeland Security for quadcopters that shoot nets at encroaching drones to trap them midair. DHS declined to comment on the contract.

AI-generated misinformation is another major threat. Officials warned that state actors could use deepfake videos to cause panic. The FBI will activate joint operations centers in each host city on match days. “If there’s a video that shows an explosion going off at a site, and it’s AI generated, we have people on the ground who can validate whether or not that’s true,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Amit Kachhia-Patel.

In Dallas, a $120 million tech upgrade gives police body cameras with real-time translation, helping officers communicate with international visitors. Several drone detection startups are also joining federal efforts to secure the skies.

The security push unfolds against a tense geopolitical backdrop. The U. S.-Israel war with Iran has shifted the threat landscape since planning began. Human rights groups have raised concerns about ICE presence at venues. And the Secret Service, responsible for protecting world leaders attending the tournament, is understaffed by about 860 agents, according to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

“We’re as prepared as we can be,” Giuliani said. The unspoken bet is that the technology will fill the gaps.