The upcoming World Cup, featuring 48 teams, 36 base camps, and 11 stadiums, presents one of the most formidable security challenges the FBI has ever encountered. This immense undertaking is further complicated by an anticipated three million visitors, including numerous heads of state, alongside potential threats ranging from drones and spies to terrorists, unruly fans, cartels, and pyrotechnics.FBI Director Kash Patel described the event as "a huge lift, probably the biggest lift in FBI history, in American history," during a mid-flight interview aboard the bureau's Gulfstream jet. With 48 teams, 36 base camps and 11 stadiums, the World Cup, which kicks off on Thursday, is one of the biggest security challenges the FBI has ever faced (PA Wire)The wide-ranging discussion in late May, as Patel traveled from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to Dallas for a law enforcement conference, occurred amidst ongoing controversies and persistent reports that he might soon be dismissed from his post.Patel, 46, who assumed the role of FBI director in February 2025, has overseen several significant investigations, including the murder of Charlie Kirk. However, he emphasized that no challenge has paralleled the scale of major sporting events, where the risk of terror and other threats remains exceptionally high. "It's a huge lift, probably the biggest lift in FBI history, in American history," said FBI Director ‌Kash Patel in a mid-flight interview aboard the bureau's Gulfstream jet (Getty)"Literally the first week in office when I got to the FBI I said we have to prepare for the Olympics, the World Cup, two Formula One races and the Super Bowl," he stated, noting that the FBI, in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security, bears ultimate responsibility for securing these events "not just here but overseas."As the lead domestic U.S. intelligence agency for the World Cup, which the country is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico, the FBI is also heavily reliant on state and local law enforcement. The bureau is tasked with conducting 300,000 background checks on players, coaches, and personnel, while state and local authorities will manage security outside venues and assist with counterdrone measures.Drones are identified as one of the most significant threats to the games and host cities (Reuters)Drones are identified as one of the most significant threats to the games and host cities. In response, the FBI launched a counterdrone training program in October 2025, graduating 70 local police officers in U.S. host cities to date. Patel explained that drones are "one of the biggest ways that people who want to conduct adversarial attacks can effectuate them cheaply and from a distance, and with not much planning."Members of the Iranian national soccer team including midfielder Alireza Jahanbakhsh (R) arrive at Tijuana International Airport on June 7 (Getty)To enhance international cooperation, the FBI has established a joint operations center comprising foreign police representatives from 46 of the 48 participating countries, excluding Iran and Haiti. This center aims to facilitate the real-time exchange of threat information from their respective home nations. Patel noted that this model mirrors a similar joint operations center created in Milan for the 2026 Winter Olympics, where U.S. officials collaborated with Italian police to safeguard American visitors and athletes.Patel celebrating with the gold medal-winning U.S. hockey team, singing, spraying beer in the locker room, and putting President Donald Trump on speakerphone (Social media)That Milan event also saw Patel celebrating with the gold medal-winning U.S. hockey team, an occasion that included singing, spraying beer in the locker room, and placing Donald Trump on speakerphone. This drew widespread criticism, with some observers characterizing it as an "Olympics junket on the taxpayer's dime." These reports were accompanied by media allegations of excessive drinking, which Patel and the FBI have vehemently denied, with Patel personally suing The Atlantic for what he terms false reporting. A drone view shows Ciudad de Mexico Stadium, formerly known as Azteca Stadium (Reuters)Despite the controversy, Patel maintains that the Milan trip was crucial preparation for the World Cup, stating, "We learned a ton from Milan."Separately, Reuters reviewed a 78-page joint threat assessment by the FBI and DHS from May for the World Cup, which underscores the intricate nature of securing the tournament. The document details a myriad of national threats and specific risks for each host city and base camp, offering recommendations to local law enforcement across all 11 U.S. World Cup host cities. (AP)The assessment highlights that Donald Trump's attendance at matches will complicate security efforts and notes an elevated threat to law enforcement and venue security if they are mistaken for National Guard or ICE immigration agents."Recent conflicts in the Middle East, such as with Iran, have resonated with some U.S.-based violent extremists and some hate crime perpetrators and could further exacerbate anti-U.S., anti-Israel, anti-Semitic, or anti-Muslim grievances," the assessment warns. Specific concerns are raised regarding Iran's two group matches at SoFi Stadium outside Los Angeles, anticipating potential violent protests from team supporters or opponents of the Iranian government. An FBI assessment specifically details concerns about Iran's two group matches at SoFi Stadium right ​outside Los Angeles, including violent protests from fans of the team or opponents of the Iranian government (AP)Patel further alleged that Iran was responsible for a cyber attack on the Los Angeles Metro in March, which disrupted parts of the system, an attack for which the pro-Iran group Ababil of Minab claimed responsibility.Patel has also faced scrutiny from congressional Democrats over his use of government aircraft, prompting lawmakers to request an investigation by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Patel has dismissed these accusations as unfair, asserting that by law, he is prohibited from flying commercially and must reimburse the bureau for personal travel. According to the FBI's responses to the GAO, Patel has taken fewer personal flights than his two predecessors and has complied with all reimbursement requirements. The FBI informed the GAO that Patel made 11 trips to his personal residence in 2025, nearly half the number of trips per year taken by Director Christopher Wray and more than a third fewer than those taken by Director James Comey. The GAO investigation is ongoing and is expected to conclude next year. Patel also claims to have saved the agency millions of dollars by utilizing Joint Base Andrews instead of Ronald Reagan National Airport, stating, "We use military government airfields every chance we get."