Authorities will take down drones at World Cup events amid wartime security measures

In the run up to the opening World Cup match in Los Angeles next week, authorities on Monday announced a series of security measures — including a no-drone zone at all venues nationwide, with officials saying they will take down any unauthorized flying objects.Federal officials have been scrambling to get countermeasures in place as drones increasingly are being used as weapons of war and terror.Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium will host eight matches during the FIFA World Cup 2026, ending with a quarter-final match July 10.

Both the U.S.national team and the team from Iran, whose countries remain at war, will be playing at the venue.Patrick Grandy, an FBI assistant director who oversees the Los Angeles office, said the agency will work with the Federal Aviation Administration to enforce temporary flight restrictions over the stadium.“We will be deploying drone mitigation and interception teams with capabilities to detect, track, and assess unauthorized drone activity that threatens aviation safety or the public around venues at major events,” Grandy said.

“Drone operators who enter restricted airspace without authorization may face fines up to $100,000.”The games, the largest sporting event in U.S.history, have been classified as a national security event, meaning federal law enforcement can deploy its most extensive security measures under the Department of Homeland Security umbrella.

Business Around 80% of hotels surveyed by the American Hotel and Lodging Assn.reported that room bookings are lagging behind expectations for the 2026 World Cup.On World Cup match days across the country, all aircraft — including drones — will be prohibited below 3,000 feet in altitude and within a 3-nautical-mile radius around the stadiums unless otherwise authorized by air traffic control.Grandy said the FBI is authorized to use a variety of technologies to detect whether a drone is violating restricted airspace.

“The capability exists to bring that drone down into a ...