Feature Article: The Science Behind Securing the World Cup

Long before the tournament kicked off, a team from the Science and Technology Directorate's (S&T) National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) traveled to several U.S. host cities to advise on counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) strategies-a crucial element of venue security. Our team captured some of the preparation that went into ensuring this historic global event could go off without a hitch.

When NUSTL deployed teams to conduct site surveys to support eight of 11 U.S. host cities in January, February, and March 2026, they did so with a very specific mission at hand: providing detailed guidance to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Components, federal coordinators, state and local law enforcement, and stadium owners about where to place C-UAS equipment to maximize the total coverage area for timely threat detection during World Cup matches.

NUSTL and S&T worked with stakeholders in each city to customize technical specifications and best practices for C-UAS equipment selection, siting, integration, deployment, and operations to secure the national airspace throughout the duration of the monthlong tournament.

Because each venue is unique, each required a custom plan of action that considered several factors for C-UAS sensor placement location, including a 360-degree line-of-sight analysis and radio frequency (RF) spectrum analysis, noting and assessing the suitability of each rooftop's physical characteristics for deploying the necessary equipment.

"Conducting the C-UAS sensor site surveys required extensive coordination with federal agencies-including DHS, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Aviation Administration, and the Federal Communications Commission-as well as state and local law enforcement and emergency management," said NUSTL Engineer Teddy Damour. "These site surveys not only optimized C-UAS sensor laydown and integration but also supported operational coordination across all jurisdictions."

There was also a lot of cooperation and coordination with private infrastructure operators. In addition to the owners and security teams at Fan Fest and World Cup match venues, the NUSTL team identified contacts for surrounding buildings that might also prove suitable for placing C-UAS equipment.

NUSTL connected with owners of a wide range of buildings seemingly unrelated to the World Cup-parking decks, hotels, condominiums, fitness centers, car dealerships, university buildings and others. They then set up shop on the rooftops of all of them.

The team produced aerial-view line-of-sight images that used color codes to show the minimum altitude at which an unidentified drone can be detected by a sensor.

In addition to mapping obstructions to physical visibility, the team also measured invisible obstructions to sensor capabilities by analyzing the RF environment of each site. Spectrum analyzers allowed the team to identify potential sources of interference, such as dense Wi-Fi, broadcast signals, and cell towers.

The team also measured the RF environment near the stadiums using internet speed tests to gauge the ordinary demands on local cellular infrastructure. These readings allowed NUSTL to also account for the projected influx of a full stadium's-worth of fans and their smart technologies.

S&T staff documented less high-tech, but still crucial, deployment details like how rooftops could be accessed and the suitability of those access points for transporting the C-UAS equipment for installation. They documented available rooftop power sources as well as any existing equipment that could present challenges to optimal readings, like already present antennae and sensors.

At the end of the site visits, one final-but extremely important-piece of the puzzle remained: how could each of the individual analyses and observations be added to citywide maps that could then be used to make decisions? All of the data could help drive the total number of sensors needed, visualize how different sensors (radar, RF equipment, and more) are optimized for certain locations, and help DHS Component leads and state and local law enforcement team leads dynamically work through various tradespace options to make informed decisions about limited C-UAS equipment and personnel.

To solve this, NUSTL's Dr. Alex Sedunov, PhD, developed a map-based engineering tool that allows multiple sensors to be placed on a map detecting UAS targets at different heights and visualizing the RF survey results, line-of-sight results, and detailed photo documentation for each sensor location so the team can then see practical coverage options for the entire system of sensors.

NUSTL's site visits were part of a comprehensive S&T strategy to enhance protection for World Cup stadiums and surrounding infrastructure that also bolstered data capture and information sharing and advised FEMA grant recipients on C-UAS technology procurement.

Though the World Cup has now concluded, NUSTL's C-UAS work is still going strong. With another round of C-UAS grant funding expected to be released by FEMA this fall, the lab is collecting after-action reports from their state and local partners in the host cities. These will allow NUSTL to refine their guidance and tools even further based on real-world operational feedback. The lab will support additional state and local agencies using lessons learned from the World Cup experience and to continue their work helping optimize the collective use of federal, state, and local C-UAS assets over the long term.

"The 2026 FIFA World Cup represents an unparalleled scale of event security and coordination. The insights and lessons gained from this undertaking will significantly inform the planning and execution of future SEAR events, including the multi-city Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics," said Damour. "Building on the experience gained from the World Cup, NUSTL will continue to provide state and local partners, as well as DHS Components, with comprehensive C-UAS technical support."

Listen to The Front Line of Homeland Security for more about NUSTL's C-UAS mission. For related media inquiries, please contact [email protected].