FBI Director Kash Patel has said the United States recorded no major security incidents during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the tournament as the largest sporting event in history and the biggest single-event security deployment ever undertaken by the bureau.
In a post shared on X on Monday, Patel credited President Donald Trump’s administration, the FBI, and federal, state and local partners for what he described as a successful security operation spanning the month-long tournament.
According to Patel, “The 2026 FIFA World Cup was the largest sporting event in the history of the world, shattering previous attendance record by double digits. America- we got it done, ZERO major security incidents across our nation while we hosted the equivalent of 78 super bowls in 38 days, along with 40 base camps, endless fan zones, and celebrations in nearly every state.”
He added, “President Trump promised his administration would deliver the most safe, secure, and fun environment for FIFA. He started by establishing the White House FIFA Task Force some 16 months ago, and we got right to work.”
Patel said the FBI deployed nearly 5,000 personnel across its headquarters, field and international offices in support of security operations across the tournament’s 16 host cities.
