The 2025 FIFA World Cup across the United States, Mexico, and Canada faces a “real and elevated” risk of terrorist attacks, casting a significant shadow over the prestigious international tournament. José Ricardo Bandeira, a public security expert and president of the Latin American Institute of Criminalistics and Police Sciences, emphasizes that the likelihood of such an event during the Cup is substantially high. A complex interplay of global conflicts, particularly the ongoing war in the Middle East, along with domestic funding challenges and the unpredictable actions of “lone wolves,” significantly escalates potential dangers for athletes, official delegations, visiting tourists, and residents in the host nations.
Recent developments saw a critical $625 million (approximately R$3.2 billion) in federal funding for U.S. security finally released, albeit after considerable delays. This vital allocation, approved within a broader budgetary package in July 2025, aims to bolster extensive security preparations. However, experts, including Bandeira, argue that this amount falls far short of the estimated $2 billion required to implement a truly efficient and comprehensive security system for an event of this magnitude.
Geopolitical tensions also loom, notably concerning the participation of the Iranian national team. Their request to relocate games to Mexico due to security concerns in the U.S. has been met with indications from FIFA that the schedule will likely remain unchanged, adding another layer of complexity to the security landscape for the tournament.
Escalating security challenges for the 2025 World Cup
Bandeira’s assessment underscores the multifaceted nature of the security threats converging on the 2025 World Cup. He highlights that the combination of heightened global instability and the logistical complexities of securing a multi-national event creates an environment ripe for potential hostile acts.
Factors such as extremist propaganda fueled by the Middle East conflict and the radicalization of individuals acting independently contribute significantly to the elevated risk profile. These elements make the task of intelligence agencies and security forces profoundly more intricate.
The scope of potential targets extends broadly across various segments involved in the tournament:
- Athletes and national delegations
- Thousands of international tourists and fans
- Residents in host cities and surrounding areas
- Critical infrastructure, including transportation hubs and event venues
Funding complexities and critical resource gaps
The allocation of $625 million in federal funds for security in the United States, released only in recent weeks, was a point of intense discussion among organizers. Despite its eventual approval, security expert Bandeira believes this sum is inadequate to secure the 11 American cities hosting matches between June and July 2025, which will welcome numerous teams and millions of visitors.
Bandeira estimates that an efficient security system would require an investment closer to $2 billion. Such a comprehensive system would encompass a vast array of technologies and personnel, including extensive aerial monitoring, sophisticated drones, satellite surveillance, advanced biometric systems, and a robust physical security presence from airports to event locations. The delay in releasing even the initial funds complicated the procurement and deployment of necessary resources and technologies.
Iran’s contentious participation heightens security alerts
The Iran national team’s presence in the 2025 World Cup remains highly uncertain, largely due to pressing security concerns. The Iranian football federation formally requested a relocation of their Group G matches against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt from Los Angeles and Seattle to Mexico, a proposal FIFA has shown no inclination to accept.
Bandeira unequivocally states that “there is no condition for the safety and tranquility” for Iran to participate in the World Cup on American soil. He explains that intelligence services and international security agencies are in unanimous agreement, advising against Iran’s involvement. The primary concern is that both Iranian fans and the national team itself could become targets of terrorist attacks perpetrated by radical American elements within the United States.
Although then-President Donald Trump had previously indicated Iran would be welcome, he also suggested that their non-participation might be ideal for their own security. This reflects the deep-seated apprehension within U.S. intelligence circles regarding the potential for extremist acts stemming from geopolitical tensions.
The rising threat of cyberterrorism in major events
Beyond physical threats, Bandeira also expressed grave concerns about the potential for cyberterrorist actions. He noted the existence of specialized organizations dedicated to cyber warfare, positing that the U.S., Mexico, and Canada could all become targets of such attacks during the tournament.
These cyber threats carry the capacity to cause significant disruption, potentially impacting crucial systems such as air traffic control, critical monitoring networks, GPS navigation, and even the operation of drones. Such attacks could paralyze key infrastructure, compounding the challenges faced by event organizers and security forces.
Navigating domestic threats and the ‘lone wolf’ conundrum
The United States possesses a robust infrastructure and a long-standing tradition of confronting terrorism, especially since the events of September 11, 2001. The nation has thoroughly revamped its counter-terrorism policies and capabilities since then. However, a critical need exists for enhanced unity and collaboration among municipal, state, and federal intelligence services within American territory to effectively monitor potential terrorist cells.
The more formidable challenge lies in tracking “lone wolves”—individuals who act independently, often without direct operational guidance from established terrorist organizations like Hezbollah or Hamas. Their lack of overt affiliation or communication networks makes them exceedingly difficult to detect and investigate, posing a unique and persistent threat to large-scale events.
Mexico identified as a potential security vulnerability
Bandeira identifies Mexico as the potential “Achilles’ heel” of the World Cup, representing a significant weak point in the overall security strategy. The country’s security landscape was recently highlighted by the death of “El Mencho,” a notorious cartel leader, which triggered a wave of attacks, though effectively managed by Mexican security forces. This incident, however, served as a stark red alert for FIFA. With three host cities and scheduled to host the opening match, Mexico’s challenges are twofold: managing internal crime and preventing the “importation” of external threats. Bandeira warns of the heightened alert regarding the possibility of cartels committing attacks during the games. Furthermore, he points out that accessing perimeter barriers in Mexico is considerably easier than in the U.S., making it a potentially more attractive target or a transit point for Middle Eastern terrorist organizations seeking to enter the U.S. and carry out attacks.
Intelligence reports highlight significant preparatory challenges
Intelligence reports, including those reviewed, have raised alarms about the security preparedness for the World Cup, particularly due to the delayed release of hundreds of millions of dollars earmarked for security. These documents, originating from U.S. federal and state authorities, as well as FIFA, indicated a significant risk of extremist attacks targeting transportation infrastructure.
The reports also highlighted the potential for civil unrest, specifically linking it to then-President Donald Trump’s controversial immigration policies. This added a layer of complexity to the security planning, anticipating protests and disturbances that could be exploited by hostile actors.
A December 2025 intelligence report from New Jersey, one of the host states for games including the final, detailed recent domestic attacks, thwarted terrorist plots, and the pervasive spread of extremist propaganda online. It further mentioned the possibility of spontaneous public gatherings escalating due to international tensions.
Separately, a September 2025 report identified an online publication actively encouraging attacks on railway infrastructure during the World Cup, suggesting “many opportunities” to disrupt operations, with specific mentions of games on the U.S. and Canadian West Coasts.
Political friction impacts security resource deployment
The significant delay in releasing $625 million in federal security funds became a point of contention and political blame. Democrats attributed the holdup to then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, citing previous instances where her department withheld security funds from Democrat-governed states in a bid to pressure stricter immigration enforcement.
Conversely, the White House spokesperson, Davis Ingle, countered by placing responsibility on Democrats, citing disagreements over immigration policies as the root cause of the impasse. Despite the political friction, Ingle affirmed the president’s steadfast focus on ensuring the 2025 tournament would be both “the greatest World Cup in history” and “the safest ever held.”
Immigration policies and fan accessibility concerns
The immigration policies implemented by then-President Trump since January 2025 have already impacted the tournament’s atmosphere and raised concerns about the role of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Intensified detentions of suspected undocumented immigrants and increased airport screenings, even for tourists, have been noted in U.S. cities.
These measures, including total or partial travel restrictions on citizens from over three dozen countries, directly affect fan accessibility. Besides Iran, other qualifying national teams, such as Haiti, Ivory Coast, and Senegal, could see their supporters face significant hurdles in attending matches.
A FIFA report dated January 28, 2025, further warned that anti-ICE activism in American cities might inadvertently lower barriers for “hostile actions by isolated actors or extremist elements,” adding another layer of security concern for event planners.
Fan festivals and operational scale under scrutiny
Security officials are also expressing considerable apprehension regarding “FIFA Fan Festival” events, which typically draw massive crowds to outdoor viewing areas. An example of this concern materialized last month when a large-scale festival planned for Liberty State Park in Jersey City, intended to run for the duration of the Cup, was unexpectedly canceled and replaced by smaller, localized events.
While New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill stated the change aimed to broaden public access, sources involved in planning confirmed that security concerns were a significant factor in the decision. The sheer operational scale of the tournament is immense; federal representative Nellie Pou, whose district includes MetLife Stadium, highlighted that each of the 104 matches equates to the security complexity of a Super Bowl. Local authorities and law enforcement, she emphasized, will be under immense pressure and require every available dollar immediately.
