The FBI claims it has seized over 600 drones near World Cup venues across all 11 host cities in the US in a bid to stop disruption to the tournament.
Posting on X, the agency said that “unprecedented law enforcement coordination” was required to ensure that matches did not face disruption.
Since the start of the tournament, all World Cup stadiums and surrounding event spaces have been designated as strict “No Drone Zones.” The rules mean that taking off, landing, or flying a drone within these restricted areas is a violation of federal and local regulations that could see civil fines up to $75,000, or criminal fines up to $100,000.
While a massive number of drone seizures have taken place, no actual World Cup matches have been delayed by drones so far. But there was minor disruption during a South Korean training session in Guadalajara, Mexico, that was briefly interrupted when an unregistered drone was spotted during their practice.
Prior to the start of the tournament, the Department...