World Cup security funding freeze sparks urgent warning from host cities with 100 days to go

• Local officials warn frozen federal funding and poor coordination risk serious security failures
• FEMA grants remain inaccessible, leaving host cities unable to finalise safety planning
• Congressional hearing highlights drone threats, trafficking risks and operational shortfalls

Local officials from United States World Cup host cities have issued a stark warning to Congress that security preparations are at serious risk, with just over 100 days remaining before the tournament begins.

Appearing before the House Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday, witnesses described a picture of inadequate coordination, frozen federal funding and growing external threats that could combine to create dangerous conditions across host venues. Central to their concerns is the continued suspension of Federal Emergency Management Agency funding, which had been earmarked to support security planning and operational delivery.

The federal government previously allocated $625 million to the 11 American host cities to enhance security and preparedness, alongside a further $250 million to strengthen their ability to detect and counter drone threats. However, a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security has left those funds inaccessible, delaying recruitment, training and operational planning.

Officials said the consequences were already being felt. Coordination between local agencies and federal partners remains incomplete, while key decisions on transport, accommodation, fan zones, training facilities and stadium security cannot be finalised.

Security risks cited included drone incursions, human trafficking, the visible presence of immigration enforcement officers, and rising cartel violence in parts of Mexico. Recent incidents near Guadalajara, one of the Mexican host cities, have intensified concerns around venue protection.

Mike Sena, president of the National Fusion Center Association, told the committee the United States was significantly behind schedule.

“If we were having this conversation two years ago, we would be in better shape,” Sena said. “But today, as we approach these games, we are nowhere near the capability we need.”

Sena added that the scale of the World Cup, followed by the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, represents the greatest homeland security challenge in decades, warning that poor coordination between agencies could allow serious threats to go unaddressed.

Miami World Cup host committee chief operating officer Ray Martinez said the city urgently requires around $70 million in federal funding, without which major elements of the tournament experience could be cancelled.

“We are 107 days out from the tournament and roughly 70 days from building the Fan Fest,” Martinez said. “Without receiving this money, it could be catastrophic for our planning and coordination.”

Kansas City police deputy chief Joseph Mabin said funding delays were preventing the recruitment of additional officers, leaving his department understaffed to manage the demands of hosting six matches and serving as a training base for four teams. He described the release of funds as critical.

In Maryland, deputy chief of staff Travis Nelson compared the situation to a fragile Jenga tower, warning that a single misstep could cause the entire security framework to collapse.

Republican committee members criticised their Democratic counterparts for blocking votes required to unfreeze the funding, while Representative Carlos Gimenez said FEMA staff responsible for processing grants are not working during the shutdown, delaying payments indefinitely.

The tournament begins on June 11 in Mexico City, with the opening match in the United States taking place in Los Angeles the following day. The final will be staged in New York and New Jersey on July 19. As the countdown continues, host cities say urgent action is needed to ensure that security planning keeps pace with the scale of the event.