Security officials are ramping up preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin warned that threats surrounding the international tournament remain “extremely high.”
North Texas is expected to play a major role in the event, with Dallas-Fort Worth slated to host nine matches — the highest number assigned to any venue in the United States.
Speaking Thursday during an interview with Fox Business, Mullin said authorities are especially focused on protecting large gathering areas outside stadiums.
“We feel like that threat level is extremely high, especially in soft areas outside of the stadiums,” Mullin said, NBC 5 DFW reported.
The secretary also pointed to complications caused by the Department of Homeland Security’s 76-day shutdown earlier this year, which delayed federal security funding for host cities preparing for the tournament.
“That’s put us, because of the shutdown, it’s put us in quite a bind to build, to meet that need,” Mullin said. “Now we’re going to do it, but it definitely has hindered our ability to be as proactive as we would like.”
The World Cup is set to begin in June and will bring a wide range of events to North Texas beyond the matches themselves. AT&T Stadium in Arlington will host games, while Dallas plans to hold a FIFA fan festival at Fair Park. The city’s downtown convention center will also serve as the tournament’s international media center.
Training facilities are expected to operate in Frisco and Mansfield, and officials anticipate large crowds gathering in entertainment districts throughout the region. Transportation plans also include special transit hubs designed to shuttle fans to and from stadium events using buses and trains.
Law enforcement officials say those secondary locations can create additional security concerns because they are more difficult to secure than stadium venues with controlled access points.
Former Arlington Police Chief Theron Bowman, who previously helped coordinate security for events including the Super Bowl and World Series, said the delayed federal funding created challenges for agencies trying to conduct training and finalize operational plans.
Still, Bowman said the Dallas-Fort Worth area’s extensive experience hosting major sporting events gives the region an advantage compared with some other World Cup cities.
“Here in the Dallas area, we’re a little bit better prepared with our systems and what we always do. And so we’re not as negatively impacted, although we are impacted,” Bowman said, per NBC 5.
The heightened security concerns also come as officials monitor global tensions following the ongoing conflict in Iran.
Despite the challenges, local, state, and federal agencies involved in planning efforts continue to say preparations remain on schedule and that security teams are working together to ensure the safety of visitors, residents, and players throughout the tournament.
Following a meeting with Mullin last month, FIFA President Gianni Infantino posted a message on social media offering reassurances to soccer fans:
“It was my pleasure to meet the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin to discuss preparations for the most inclusive FIFA World Cup ever. … Together with @dhsgov and @whtaskforcefifa, we will ensure all 48 national teams and millions of visiting fans from around the world experience a safe, secure, and joyful @fifaworldcup in the United States, as they will in Mexico and Canada.”
