WASHINGTON — FBI Director Kash Patel announced on July 20, 2026, that the bureau seized more than 700 drones in restricted airspace around 2026 FIFA World Cup venues in the United States. The seizures occurred within no-drone zones the federal government established around each of the tournament locations.

Patel shared the update in an X post. "We established the first ever counter-UAS drone school, training members of law enforcement from across the country for the World Cup — we seized over 700 drones near FIFA airspace," Patel stated.

As of July 15, 2026, the FBI had detected nearly 1,600 illegal drones attempting to enter those restricted zones. Meghan King, a supervisory special agent in charge of the crisis management program at the FBI Boston Field Office, described the operation as historically extensive.

"What you’re seeing now is the most comprehensive airspace security and drone mitigation effort in U.S. history," King said. "We are utilizing cutting-edge technology to detect drones flying in restricted airspace, mitigating the threat they pose, and seizing them from operators in an effort to keep both the skies and the public safe."

FBI agents were deployed during the World Cup games across the country. This deployment represented the largest resource dedication the FBI has ever made to an event.