Supporters heading to World Cup fixtures have been cautioned that using one particular device at selected matches could lead to penalties as high as $100,000, with FIFA and federal authorities enforcing tight safety measures.
FIFA has set out a wide range of stadium restrictions for the tournament in an effort to protect fans, players, staff, and everyone else attending the matches.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 and is being staged across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with 48 teams playing 104 matches in 16 host cities.
Security rules will vary slightly by country and venue, but supporters are being told to check official guidance before travelling, as match-day restrictions will apply both inside stadiums and in the areas around them.
Items prohibited inside World Cup grounds include beach umbrellas, inflatables, selfie sticks, folding chairs, professional camera mounts, fireworks, smoke devices, laser pointers, and any type of weapon.
Drones are also banned under FIFA’s stadium rules, but in the United States they carry an additional risk because federal airspace restrictions are being imposed around match venues, fan events, team hotels, base camps, and training facilities.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced that, on match days at US World Cup stadiums, all aircraft operations, including drones, will be prohibited within a three-nautical-mile radius and up to 3,000 feet above ground level unless specifically authorized by air traffic control.
That means fans cannot simply stand outside a stadium, in a parking lot, or in a nearby neighborhood and launch a drone to capture footage of the crowds or the venue.
At Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, which will be known as Miami Stadium during the tournament because of FIFA’s commercial naming rules, the no-drone restrictions will apply on June 15, 21, 24, 27, July 3, 11, and 18, 2026.
Those dates cover all seven Miami World Cup matches, including four group-stage games, a Round of 32 fixture, a quarter-final, and the third-place match on July 18.
The Miami schedule includes Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay on June 15, Uruguay vs Cabo Verde on June 21, Scotland vs Brazil on June 24, and Colombia vs Portugal on June 27, before the knockout-stage fixtures later in the tournament.
Additional drone restrictions will also apply at certain official fan-event locations. In Miami, that includes Bayfront Park, where unauthorized drone operations will be prohibited within a one-nautical-mile radius and up to 1,000 feet above ground level during the listed World Cup fan-event dates.
On those dates, launching, landing, or operating a drone within the restricted airspace will be treated as a serious breach of both federal and local rules.
The FAA warned: “Operating a drone inside a restricted World Cup No-Drone Zone carries severe consequences.”
Those penalties can include civil fines of up to $75,000 for each violation, along with criminal fines reaching $100,000.
Anyone caught breaking the restrictions could also face drone confiscation, immediate arrest, and federal criminal charges.
The FAA has said the FBI and local law enforcement will actively monitor restricted airspace and can use federally authorized tools to detect, track, assess, intercept, and seize unauthorized drones.
The agency is also using its Drone Expedited and Targeted Enforcement Response initiative, known as DETER, to accelerate identification and enforcement action against drone operators who violate World Cup airspace restrictions.
Drone pilots are being urged to check FAA notices and official flight restriction tools before operating anywhere near World Cup venues, as some restrictions may change and additional sites can be added during the tournament.
Hard Rock Stadium can hold around 65,000 spectators and has previously staged major sporting events including Miami Dolphins games, Super Bowls, the Miami Open tennis tournament, and events connected to the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix.
The drone warning is part of a much broader security effort for what officials have described as an unprecedented challenge, with millions of visitors expected across North America and 78 of the tournament’s 104 matches taking place in the United States.
FBI Director Kash Patel has explained how extensive the agency’s preparations are ahead of the World Cup beginning on June 11.
Speaking to Fox News, he said: “It’s everything from traditional cop work going out to the streets, talking to communities and saying, ‘Hey, do you guys know of any bad actors?’
“Have you heard of anyone that might want to do harm to people or venues?”
“That’s our big security goal for us at the FBI.”
Patel said the FBI is also preparing for cyber threats, lone-wolf attacks, and drone-related incidents, with the bureau relying on local police, community leaders, and centralized intelligence gathering to identify possible risks before they reach stadiums or fan zones.
He added that drones are a particular concern because they can be operated from a distance and can move quickly into restricted areas.
“The critical component that we at the FBI have been focusing down on is teaching our state and local partners how we handle drones and how they can handle drones with us,” Patel said.
“And then collectively, it’s a force multiplier to have thousands of people out there, tens of thousands of police officers out there looking at the drone threat that’s coming in as it comes in, because it’s so quick and dynamic.”
A security expert has also raised concerns about the key risks facing fans attending matches this summer.
Corey Pollard, a lawyer and managing partner of Corey Pollard Law, added: “The crowd’s movement puts fans at the greatest risk.
“When so many elements come together – heat, drink, emotion, and confusion – any event can quickly turn into a dangerous situation.”
Officials have advised supporters to arrive early, travel light, follow venue instructions, and leave drones at home entirely rather than risk fines, seizure, or prosecution.