{"id":105229,"date":"2026-02-27T19:47:41","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T22:47:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tech.einnews.com\/article\/896264124"},"modified":"2026-02-27T19:47:41","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T22:47:41","slug":"how-tech-will-help-government-secure-the-2026-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/02\/27\/how-tech-will-help-government-secure-the-2026-world-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"How Tech Will Help Government Secure the 2026 World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>                              <title>How Tech Will Help Government Secure the 2026 World Cup<\/title>  <!-- Tiny Rich Text Editor --> <!-- Load the site id in order to track the insider locales --> <!-- this will add webcomponent polyfills based on browsers. As of 04\/29\/21 still needed for IE11 and Safari --> <!-- Start of HubSpot Embed Code --> <!-- End of HubSpot Embed Code --> <!-- Google Tag Manager --> <!-- End Google Tag Manager --> <!-- OneTrust Cookies Consent Notice start for govtech.com --> <!-- OneTrust Cookies Consent Notice end for govtech.com --> <!-- Propensity tag (propensity_analytics.js) -->  <!-- Putting icons here, so we don't have to include in a bunch of -body hbs's --> <\/p>\n<div class=\"BrowserCompatibility\" data-dialogue data-show-on-internet-explorer data-show-dialogue>\n<div class=\"BrowserCompatibility-container\">\n<div class=\"BrowserCompatibility-body\">\n<h2 class=\"BrowserCompatibility-title\"> IE 11 Not Supported <\/h2>\n<div class=\"BrowserCompatibility-text RichTextBody\">\n<p>For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- Microsite Header --> <\/p>\n<div class=\"Page-content\">\n<div class=\"Page-twoColumn\"> <main id=\"readArticle\" class=\"Page-main\" data-module data-padding=\"none\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ArticlePage-lede\">\n<div class=\"ArticlePage-lede-content\">\n<div class=\"Page-breadcrumbs\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/biz\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">GovTech Biz<\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"Page-subHeadline\">The world\u2019s biggest sporting event, set for the U.S., Canada and Mexico, is months away, and that means gov tech suppliers are preparing to make sure everyone stays safe. Drones are a main area of concern.<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ArticlePage-actions-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"Page-byline\">\n<p>February 27, 2026&nbsp;\u2022&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"Page-authors\"> <!-- one off byline --><a href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/thad-rueter\" data-cms-ai=\"0\"><span>Thad Rueter<\/span><\/a> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"Page-lead\">\n<figure class=\"Figure\">    <img data-opt-id=706462932  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"A soccer ball on a field of grass in front of a group of flags from numerous countries.\" width=\"840\" height=\"438\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/erepublic.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/31a8543\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/944x492+0+69\/resize\/840x438!\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ferepublic-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F88%2Fe8%2Feedd5bfc9426763644f200c5b0d7%2Fshutterstock-world-cup.jpg\">  <\/p>\n<p><figcaption class=\"Figure-caption\">Credit Shutterstock\/kovop58<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Page-article\">\n<div class=\"Page-articleBody RichTextBody\"> From a security standpoint, the <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/super-bowl-heightened-security-dozens-of-local-federal-agencies\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">Super Bowl<\/a>, by all public accounts, went smoothly.<\/p>\n<p>Now comes another big event security test \u2014 and the potential for government technology to shine \u2014 as people around the world prepare for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, the latest edition of the world\u2019s biggest sporting event.<\/p>\n<p>The competition will take place at multiple sites in the U.S., Mexico and Canada in June and July.<\/p>\n<p><span data-bsp-pv=\"4f8e492c-6f2f-390e-bc61-f176d3a37ab9\"><\/span><span data-bsp-pv=\"0000019c-a0cc-da9a-ab9e-feed1ab10000\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/main><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>More than 5 billion people watched the last tournament in 2022 and more than 5 million fans are expected to attend this year\u2019s 104 scheduled matches, <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fifa.com\/en\/tournaments\/mens\/worldcup\/canadamexicousa2026\/articles\/500-days-to-go-milestone-excitement-builds\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">according to FIFA<\/a>. Sixteen cities will host the tournament, which will include 48 teams.<\/p>\n<p>Money is starting to flow into the coffers of agencies charged with protecting the event.<\/p>\n<p>For instance, New York state recently announced it has received more than $17.2 million to defend against potential drone attacks, money that came through the federal government\u2019s Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Grant Program.<\/p>\n<p>Four of the state\u2019s public service agencies will split that funding \u2014 state police, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the New York City Police Department. FIFA has scheduled eight matches for the New York and New Jersey area \u2014 MetLife stadium across the Hudson River from Manhattan \u2014 including the tournament final.<\/p>\n<p>In turn, those agencies will buy gear and technology to better detect and track what a <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.governor.ny.gov\/news\/ahead-2026-fifa-world-cup-governor-hochul-announces-172-million-federal-funding-combat-illegal\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">statement from the office of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul<\/a> called \u201cunmanned aircraft systems that pose threats to public safety.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The federal government plans to <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fema.gov\/press-release\/20251028\/fema-announces-over-1-billion-federal-funding-secure-fifa-world-cup-games\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">spend at least $1 billion on World Cup security<\/a> \u2014 for tasks that include training, cybersecurity, background checks and the cost of increased law enforcement at the 11 U.S. venues. The Department of Homeland security has earmarked $500 million over two fiscal years for protections against drones.<\/p>\n<p>All that money also will go toward protecting celebrations for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, as the Hochul statement noted.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s hard to get a firm grip on the specific contracts and companies that will take part in World Cup security measures, but in this early part of the year, gov tech suppliers are getting ready for the job and positioning themselves to prove the worth of their products on this big global stage.<\/p>\n<p>The federal government\u2019s focus on countermeasures for suspect drones highlights how much those flying machines are changing public safety and helping to fuel gov tech growth. The World Cup promises to further boost both of those trends.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis next World Cup will be different because of drone threats,\u201d Travis Scott, vice president of commercial sales at <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dedrone.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">Dedrone<\/a>, told <i>Government Technology<\/i>. \u201cThis is going to be the largest multiagency effort in counter [drone activity] in history.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>People bent on causing trouble might fly drones via 5G or fiber optic instead of radio signals, forcing law enforcement and other security to use radar and other sophisticated methods to detect the machines. Cameras, radio frequency analyzers and microphones also help security personnel detect drones.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.motorolasolutions.com\/en_us.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">Motorola Solutions<\/a>, too, will have a part in securing the weekslong tournament. That\u2019s in part because its communication, video, analytics and other technologies have found common use among police departments nationwide.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also because the company operates a <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/biz\/motorola-solutions-crafts-alliance-for-public-safety-drones\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">drone tech \u201calliance\u201d<\/a> with <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skysafe.io\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">SkySafe<\/a> and <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/brincdrones.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">BRINC<\/a> \u2014 an operation that can help clients deal with what Motorola Solutions says is a recent 20 percent year-over-year increase in drone violations at major sporting events.<\/p>\n<p>Motorola Solutions \u201cwill have a significant presence in each of the site locations,\u201d Jim Wolfinbarger, Motorola Solutions\u2019 vice president of software \u2014 and a retired chief of the Colorado State Patrol \u2014 told <i>Government Technology<\/i>.<\/p>\n<p>He said the NFL has \u201ctracked thousands of drone flights over stadiums in restricted airspace,\u201d though \u201cthe vast majority operated with good intent.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The NFL did not respond to a request for comment, though <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.villanova.edu\/villanova\/law\/academics\/sportslaw\/commentary\/mslj_blog\/2025\/Flying_Under_the_Radar.html#:~:text=For%20example%2C%20on%20January%2011,large%20sporting%20event.%5B15%5D\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">drones have delayed games<\/a> and such incidents have increased more than 4,000 percent in recent years, <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.airsight.com\/en\/news\/defense-stadium-drone-threats#:~:text=Why%20the%20DEFENSE%20Act%20Matters,Pittsburgh%20Steelers%20in%20January%202025\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">according to one estimate<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Countering a mysterious drone doesn\u2019t necessarily mean shooting it down, Wolfinbarger said. Indeed, doing so could violate federal law, though <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jsonline.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2025\/10\/27\/proposed-wisconsin-bill-would-allow-police-to-shoot-down-drones\/86918519007\/?gnt-cfr=1&amp;gca-cat=p&amp;gca-uir=false&amp;gca-epti=z1182xxp000250c000250u002193e1182xxv001093&amp;gca-ft=294&amp;gca-ds=sophi\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">some states<\/a> have considered proposals to <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.route-fifty.com\/emerging-tech\/2025\/11\/state-leaders-push-laws-bring-down-drones\/409529\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">give law enforcement that power<\/a>. Jamming, GPS spoofing and even nets offer ways to counter drones that don\u2019t involve bullets.<\/p>\n<p>Drones won\u2019t be the only security story at the World Cup. The emerging technology of real-time translation also will get a shot at the spotlight.<\/p>\n<p>The <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/sheriff.santaclaracounty.gov\/home\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">Santa Clara County Sheriff\u2019s Office<\/a> \u2014 located in the Bay Area of California, another <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/fifaworldcup26.hospitality.fifa.com\/venues\/san-francisco-bay-area?src=home_browse_by_location_city\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">World Cup site<\/a> \u2014 is testing translation technology from <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/pocketalk.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">Pocketalk<\/a>, which sells tools that police officers and others can use to communicate quickly with a wider variety of people.<\/p>\n<p>The department says it has two dozen handheld, AI-backed Pocketalk devices, along with 200 enterprise mobile app licenses, to make possible \u201csecure, real-time translation in more than 92 languages,\u201d <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/sheriff.santaclaracounty.gov\/sheriffs-office-launches-language-translation-pilot-ahead-super-bowl\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">according to a statement<\/a>. \u201cThe tools are designed to support one-on-one conversations in the field and provide secure, efficient, on-demand translation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The sheriff\u2019s department used the devices during the recent Super Bowl, held in Santa Clara, and will deploy them for the World Cup, too.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cExploring technology is about improving interactions and reducing misunderstandings,\u201d said Cindy Chen, the Sheriff\u2019s Office\u2019s principal IT manager. \u201cLanguage barriers can impede our services or even escalate situations. By bridging that gap, we\u2019re helping deputies serve every member of our community more effectively.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Relatively mundane law enforcement communications also will play a major role in World Cup security.<\/p>\n<p>Right after the Super Bowl ended, professionals at <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.firstnet.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">FirstNet<\/a> \u2014 the dedicated communications system for first responders run on <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/em\/safety\/how-did-the-at-t-outage-thursday-affect-firstnet\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">AT&amp;T networks<\/a> \u2014 turned even more of their attention to the global tournament. Indeed, FirstNet took part in helping secure the recent <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Punxsutawney_Phil\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">Feb. 2 groundhog hoopla<\/a> in Punxsutawney, Pa., underscoring the scope of its work.<\/p>\n<p>The company has spent well over a year on World Cup prep, according to Chris Stratmann, an associate director at FirstNet and a former CIO for the Kansas National Guard, a job that gave him oversight of emergency communications.<\/p>\n<p>He said his teams are divided up according to <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dhs.gov\/medialibrary\/assets\/photo\/26134\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">Federal Emergency Management Agency regions<\/a>, and with specific team members responsible for specific cities and venues. That might sound easier than it really is.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSome of these cities have 12 to 15 other locations [relevant to the tournament], including hotels that teams are staying in,\u201d Stratmann told <i>Government Technology<\/i>.<\/p>\n<p>He knows that that no major sporting event in the U.S. has been attacked by terrorists since Sept. 11, 2001 \u2014 except for the <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.motherjones.com\/criminal-justice\/2013\/04\/boston-marathon-sports-events-terrorist-attacks\/#:~:text=The%20attack%20in%20Boston%20on%20April%2015%2C,highest%2Dcasualty%20attack%20on%20a%20marathon%20in%20history.\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">2013 Boston Marathon<\/a> \u2014 though that doesn\u2019t mean he takes anything for granted, of course. He gives advancing technology such as facial recognition some of the credit for that.<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cvast size\u201d of the World Cup, however, offers ample opportunities for such attacks.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have supported the Super Bowl for eight years,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s given us a lot of experience. But the World Cup is that times 11.\u201d <\/p>\n<div class=\"Page-authorInfo \" data-with-image>\n<div class=\"Page-authorInfo-image\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/thad-rueter\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">    <img data-opt-id=1087225692  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"Thad Rueter\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/erepublic.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/43f3f09\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3269x3269+856+0\/resize\/100x100!\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ferepublic-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F57%2Ff3%2F9e767ef9416fb87c11d204c617a1%2F2305-thad-01.jpg\">  <\/a> <\/div>\n<div class=\"Page-authorInfo-content\">\n<div class=\"Page-authorInfo-name\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/thad-rueter\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">Thad Rueter<\/a> <\/div>\n<p> Thad Rueter writes about the business of government technology. He covered local and state governments for newspapers in the Chicago area and Florida, as well as e-commerce, digital payments and related topics for various publications. He lives in Wisconsin. <\/p>\n<div class=\"Page-authorInfo-seeMore\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/thad-rueter\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">See More Stories by Thad Rueter<\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <!-- Contributors --> <\/p>\n<aside class=\"Page-aside\"> <\/aside>\n<div class=\"Newsletter-container\">\n<p> Never miss a story with the GovTech Today newsletter. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <button class=\"GoogleDfpMobileAd-close\" data-close>  <\/button>    <\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\"> <\/a><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\/acceptable.html\"> <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8230; of the year, gov <span class=\"match\">tech<\/span> suppliers are getting ready for &#8230; and helping to fuel gov <span class=\"match\">tech<\/span> growth. The World Cup promises &#8230; the company operates a drone <span class=\"match\">tech<\/span> \u00e2\u0080\u009calliance\u00e2\u0080\u009d with SkySafe and &#8230; Cup site \u00e2\u0080\u0094 is testing translation <span class=\"match\">technology<\/span> from Pocketalk, which sells tools &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-105229","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","wpcat-1-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105229","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=105229"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105229\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=105229"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=105229"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=105229"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}