Fifa World Cup matches face heightened terror risk in US amid Iran conflict

"The biggest threat stems from homegrown violent extremists, often lone actors that may have become radicalized online by extreme political views or jihadists such as the Islamic State (Isis), said four counter-terror experts interviewed. We need to protect not only each venue, but all the other links in the chain that get to the point of the game, said Javed Ali, associate professor at the University of Michigan, who previously served in the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and as national security council senior director for counter-terrorism."

"There are just so many games. There's only so many resources to deploy to try to buy down risk against a number of different threats. In March, the FBI held a large residential training exercise on domestic threats, bringing together agents from across the country who work in domestic terrorism ahead of major national security events such as the World Cup. When FBI agents at the meeting discussed the scale and complexity of securing the tournament, they were alarmed, because there's a lot that needs to be dealt with."

"It will be hard to control, given the environment and the number of locations of matches and watch parties across the United States. There is a very real possibility that something bad will happen. Although the US is experienced in securing large-scale stadium events such as the NFL Super Bowl, experts say the sheer number of World Cup matches will require an unprecedented level of coordination, vigilance and stamina."

"The tournament will be about six weeks long, with 104 matches in the US, Canada and Mexico. The US will host 78 matches, in Atl"

Terrorism risks for World Cup matches held across the United States are heightened by vulnerabilities linked to the US-Israel conflict with Iran and reduced counter-terrorism expertise within federal law enforcement. The primary threat comes from homegrown violent extremists, often lone actors radicalized online through extreme political views or jihadist propaganda such as Islamic State. Security must extend beyond each stadium to cover the full chain of events that leads to games, including travel, venues, and watch parties. The large number of matches and locations creates resource strain and makes control difficult. Even with experience securing major stadium events like the Super Bowl, the World Cup’s scale requires unprecedented coordination, vigilance, and sustained effort over roughly six weeks.

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