Spain's World Cup team faces multiple security threats in the US

During the FIFA World Cup, the FBI coordinated the International Police Cooperation Center (IPCC), a joint effort of U.S. federal agencies and police forces from participating nations, to monitor terrorist alerts, fan violence and other incidents.

One incident involved a Caucasian man in his fifties who repeatedly asked hotel staff in Houston about the whereabouts of Princess Leonor of Spain. He was photographed, investigated and detained after claiming he needed to see her because "me voy a casar con ella" (he was going to marry her).

On July 6, a minor girl living in Southeast Asia posted on X that she would carry out a suicide bombing during the Spain‑Portugal match in Dallas, saying she would "colándome en el estadio con una bomba en mi cintura para que me pueda asegurar de ambas pérdidas". The threat was traced and the girl was identified.

The following day, a bomb threat was reported at the West Drift Manhattan hotel in Los Angeles shortly before the Spanish squad arrived for their quarter‑final against Belgium. FBI and canine units investigated the claim before the team departed.

Spanish police officials, including an inspector from the National Police and a lieutenant from the Guardia Civil, participated in the IPCC’s efforts to protect the delegation throughout the tournament.