FBI reports multiple bomb threats targeting Lionel Messi during World Cup 2026

Lionel Messi bomb threats FIFA World Cup 2026 FBI Cristiano Ronaldo

The FBI coordinated the International Police Cooperation Center (IPCC) with U.S. federal agencies and police from participating countries, including Spain, to monitor security threats during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The majority of threats were directed at Argentina captain Lionel Messi. The most serious incident involved a caller to Dallas airport before the Argentina‑Jordan match who said he and two others were heading to the stadium with homemade bombs and an AR‑15, specifically mentioning Messi as a target. A separate threat posted on X before the Argentina‑Egypt match in Atlanta read, “I’m about to enter the Atlanta stadium and blow up Messi with four bombs strapped to my body.” Police responded with explosives specialists and K‑9 units, searching the stadium and later investigating a report of three bombs placed in trash cans. Cristiano Ronaldo was also targeted; a suspect in Houston was detained after asking for his accommodation, and another was arrested in Toronto after trying to enter an elevator with the player to take a selfie. French referee François Letexier received around 6,000 threatening WhatsApp messages. All threats were investigated and neutralized; no attacks occurred.

Entities: Cristiano Ronaldo · Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport · Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) · François Letexier · Houston Police Department · International Police Cooperation Center (IPCC) · Lionel Messi

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 14 SOURCES] Lionel Messi was the primary target of most threats to footballers before and during the World Cup. (Threat analysis)
[● 9 SOURCES] Houston police detained a suspect on June 16 who was asking about Cristiano Ronaldo’s accommodation. (multiple)
[● 9 SOURCES] The FBI coordinated an International Police Cooperation Center (IPCC) during the World Cup, involving U.S. federal agencies and police from participating countries, including Spain. (multiple)
[● 9 SOURCES] The IPCC tracked terrorist alerts, threats to footballers, violent fans, and incidents that could affect the championship. (multiple)
[● 14 SOURCES] A user on X posted that they would enter the Atlanta stadium with four bombs strapped to their body to blow up Messi. (Social media threat)
[● 14 SOURCES] A suspect in Toronto was detained after trying to enter an elevator with Cristiano Ronaldo to take a selfie. (Arrest in Toronto)
[● 14 SOURCES] Explosive specialists and K‑9 units searched the Atlanta stadium after the threat, and police investigated a report of three bombs placed in trash cans. (Police response)
[● 14 SOURCES] A man called Dallas airport before the Argentina‑Jordan match, claiming he and two others were heading to the stadium with homemade bombs and an AR‑15, specifically mentioning Messi as a target. (Phone call threat)
[● 4 SOURCES] Similar security incidents were investigated in Toronto, Houston and Miami. (multiple sources)
[● 14 SOURCES] A suspect in Houston was detained after asking for Cristiano Ronaldo's accommodation details. (Arrest in Houston)
[● 4 SOURCES] A user on X posted that they would walk into the Atlanta stadium and blow up Messi with four bombs strapped to their body. (multiple sources)
[● 4 SOURCES] No terrorist attacks occurred; all threats were investigated and no harm came to Messi. (multiple sources)