In a post on X, the FBI said: "Due to unprecedented law enforcement coordination, this #FBI and our DHS partners have seized over 400 drones from restricted airspace across all 11 U.S. host cities since the start of the @FIFAWorldCup tournament."

The announcement comes as the FIFA World Cup reaches the halfway stage, with U.S. authorities continuing to enforce strict airspace restrictions around match venues.

What is a 'No Drone Zone'?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), in coordination with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, has designated all FIFA World Cup 2026 stadiums and surrounding event areas as "No Drone Zones."

Under these restrictions, unauthorised drone operations are strictly prohibited in and around stadiums and designated event locations. For major sporting events, the FAA imposes Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) to protect spectators, players and critical infrastructure by securing the surrounding airspace.

Flying, launching or landing a drone within these restricted zones without prior authorization is considered a serious violation of federal regulations.

Strict penalties for violations

The FAA, working alongside the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and local law enforcement agencies, is actively monitoring restricted airspace using federally authorized technologies to detect, track and assess unauthorized drone activity.

Individuals found operating drones inside World Cup No Drone Zones without authorization could face severe penalties, including:

Civil fines of up to $75,000 per violation.

Criminal fines of up to $100,000.Confiscation of the drone, with the FBI authorized to use specialized mitigation tools to intercept and seize unauthorized aircraft.
Federal criminal prosecution, which may result in arrest and additional legal consequences.