US agencies seize over 700 drones near FIFA World Cup sites

Since the start of the FIFA World Cup on June 11, U.S. law‑enforcement and aviation authorities have confiscated more than 700 drones across all 11 host cities. The FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) say drones are prohibited within a three‑nautical‑mile radius and up to 3,000 feet around stadiums, with tighter limits at fan zones. Violators can face fines up to $100,000, criminal charges and forfeiture of the aircraft. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the seizures show the government “can actually identify the users and identify people who are in airspace where they’re not supposed to be.”

The ACLU has warned that the seizures raise due‑process concerns, noting that seized drones become subject to civil asset forfeiture and may be kept or sold without owners’ consent. The organization questions the lack of transparency about how the drones are handled and whether the practice incentivizes over‑enforcement.