The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently awarded $625 million to empower all 11 cities hosting FIFA World Cup 2026 matches to bolster security preparations ahead of the soccer tournament, in close coordination with the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026.
This funding, administered through the new FIFA World Cup Grant Program, will enable state and local officials to hold operational exercises, conduct staff background checks, and strengthen cybersecurity defenses. Recipients can also use awarded funds to pay for increased police and emergency response at FIFA venues, hotels, and transportation hubs.
“The 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to be the largest sporting event in history, so it must also be the most secure,” said Karen S. Evans, senior official performing the duties of the FEMA Administrator.
Notably, FEMA also recently awarded $250 million to the states hosting FIFA World Cup 2026 through the Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Grant Program. In recent years, criminals, terrorists, and hostile foreign actors have intensified their use of unmanned aircraft systems, also known as “drones.” With C-UAS Grant Program funds, FIFA World Cup host cities can strengthen their ability to detect, identify, track, or mitigate the unlawful use of this technology.
Both grant programs were established under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
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