If you’ve recently picked up a new drone (or you’re thinking about flying one near a World Cup host city this summer), you’ll want to read this before you head out.
The FBI has spent the past week confiscating drones and citing pilots near stadiums hosting FIFA World Cup 2026 matches — and the agency has made it clear it isn’t messing around.
The FBI’s Counter Drone Enforcement Team has been busy around last night’s #WorldCup game and related events ensuring drone pilots aren’t violating @FAA Temporary Flight Restrictions. But some were, and as promised, they were cited and had their drones seized. Meanwhile,… pic.twitter.com/s0vy75E73EJune 13, 2026
Around 15 drones were seized near SoFi Stadium and the L.A. Memorial Coliseum over a single weekend, with multiple operators cited for violating temporary flight restrictions, according to the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.
Down in South Florida, the FBI’s Miami division separately confiscated nine drones and fined seven operators near Hard Rock Stadium and the Bayfront Park Fan Festival, with the FBI’s Atlanta office also reporting seizures from three operators.
This FBI has been preparing for months to keep players, fans, and visitors safe during @FIFAWorldCup 2026. SSA Meghan from @FBIBoston shares about the work that goes into securing large special events, and the FBI steps up to the challenge of emerging threats from drone… pic.twitter.com/RoDNebF0pgJune 13, 2026
It’s a pattern that’s likely to repeat itself across the tournament’s 11 US host cities. The FAA has designated World Cup stadiums as strict “No Drone Zones” on match days, and law enforcement has been blunt about its approach.
“We have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to drones violating the temporary flight restrictions,” said Amir Ehsaei, special agent in charge of counterterrorism and crisis response at the FBI’s LA Field Office.
Over in Florida, Brett Skiles, special agent in charge of FBI Miami, struck a similarly firm tone: “Public safety is our top priority. Our agents and law enforcement partners are authorized by the Department of Justice to use specialized mitigation tools to intercept and seize drones that breach these restrictions.”
So if you’re packing a drone for a trip to a host city (or you simply live in or near one), here’s what you actually need to know.
What the no-fly zones cover
The restricted areas are larger than many casual fliers might assume. The FAA prohibits all aircraft operations, including drones, within a 3-nautical-mile radius and up to 3,000 feet above ground level around stadiums hosting World Cup matches. That’s roughly a 5.5km bubble stretching nearly a kilometer into the sky, centered on the venue.
At SoFi Stadium specifically, that 3-nautical-mile, 3,000-foot restriction applies on match days, while fan festival venues like the L.A. Memorial Coliseum carry their own ban, covering a 1-nautical-mile radius up to 1,000 feet above ground level.
Similar temporary flight restrictions (TFRs for short) apply at other venues hosting games this summer, including Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Lumen Field in Seattle, Gillette Stadium in Boston and New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium (which will host the tournament’s final).
If you’re traveling to a host city for any stretch of the tournament, it’s worth assuming the airspace around the stadium could be locked down on any given day, not just during the match itself.
The penalties for getting it wrong are steep. Violators could face fines of up to $100,000 and federal criminal charges, and that’s on top of losing the drone itself. The FBI isn’t shy about confiscating hardware on the spot, and it has been actively monitoring airspace around match events using a dedicated Counter Drone Enforcement Team.
The good news is that checking whether you’re in a restricted zone takes about 30 seconds. The TFR section of the FAA website lists all active temporary flight restrictions by location and date, and apps like B4UFLY pull this data into an easy map view; both are worth checking if you’re heading anywhere near a host city this summer. The FAA pushes out updates as restrictions are added, so it’s worth double checking on the day itself, not just the week before.
If your World Cup trip plans included grabbing some striking footage of the festivities, it might be time to turn to other gear instead. A good action camera or gimbal-stabilized handheld like the new Insta360 Luna Ultra will get you sweeping, cinematic shots of the fan zones and surrounding areas without any risk of a federal agent walking over to confiscate your kit and levy a hefty fine.
Happy shooting!
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