ATLANTA — As the World Cup semifinals between England and Argentina approach at Atlanta Stadium on Tuesday, July 14th, 2026, the FBI and Atlanta Police Department (APD) have launched a comprehensive security operation targeting unauthorized drones.

Both agencies are deploying drones to monitor potential threats both on the ground and in the air. The FBI is enforcing the Federal Aviation Administration's Temporary Flight Restrictions around the venue, having confiscated over 600 drones nationwide since the tournament began. Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Atlanta Field Office, Marlo Graham, reported that 86 of those drones were seized in Atlanta alone.

Graham explained that the FBI uses a "mechanism" to detect unauthorized drones in restricted airspace and has successfully managed to safely land such drones. Kindu Franklin noted that most individuals caught flying drones near World Cup venues are hobbyists without malicious intent, often purchasing drones recently to capture footage for social media.

The APD drone unit has conducted more than 1,400 flights and logged over 550 flight hours since early June. Anais Paredes, an APD drone pilot, said, "We live here, so we know what to expect." Authorities emphasized the importance of proactive operations, citing concerns about drones potentially being weaponized and the risk of disrupting the game if a hobbyist loses control of their drone.

The closed dome stadium in Atlanta provides some protection, but officials remain vigilant to safeguard the large crowds expected at the event.

Sources