The World Cup hosts are investing vast sums to install artificial intelligence systems, robotic dogs, and anti-drone technology to maintain security at the global tournament. Experts fear these infrastructures could be transformed into tools for long-term surveillance of citizens.
The 2026 World Cup event, set to open across 16 host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is expected to attract over 5 million fans from around the world.
However, the focus is not only on the matches themselves. Human rights and technology experts have expressed serious concerns about the use of advanced surveillance technologies. There are suspicions that U.S. government agencies, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), might exploit this opportunity to deploy facial recognition and spyware systems to intensify immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump's administration. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has warned foreign visitors to be cautious of increased surveillance during the event.
One key technology for the tournament is drones and counter-drone systems (C-UAS). The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has established a new office with a budget exceeding $115 million, alongside an additional $250 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to boost counter-drone capabilities in host states. Private security firms like Fortem Technologies, Sentrycs, and Axon have secured contracts to supply this technology to government agencies. The Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) has raised concerns that some counter-drone technologies rely on disrupting or intercepting radio signals, which could inadvertently collect data from nearby mobile phones without public knowledge.
A DHS spokesperson told WIRED that federal resources will be coordinated with the 11 host cities to ensure the safety of every match. The agency affirmed it is working closely with federal, local, and international partners to create a secure environment for players, fans, and host communities.
Artificial intelligence technology is also widely deployed, including AI camera-equipped robotic dogs stationed at the International Broadcasting Center in Dallas and at stadiums in New York/New Jersey. In Nuevo León, Mexico, authorities have deployed robotic dogs around the stadium in Monterrey to support crowd patrol and surveillance, and there are plans to trial facial recognition systems on buses in Kansas City.
Additionally, Lenovo's Intelligent Command Center uses real-time data analysis and digital twin technology to simulate spaces and analyze crowd movement patterns.
Privacy rights analysts from multiple organizations assess that the real danger lies in the durability of these surveillance infrastructures.
These costly technologies, installed under the pretext of temporary security, are often left for law enforcement agencies to use in daily life after the tournament ends. This represents a militarization of public spaces and may become tools that directly impact citizens' rights and freedoms in the future.
/source/Wired