Cities Hosting Major Events Need More Focus on Wireless, Drone Defense

Cybersecurity experts warn that the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s complex, high-density radio-frequency environment will amplify risks from drones, wireless surveillance, and attacks on operational technology—threats that include command-and-control hijacking/jamming, RF mapping and metadata harvesting, and cascading infrastructure failures. The report emphasizes visibility gaps for defenders, limits on local counter-drone authority, and recommends layered defenses (RF, radar, acoustic, optical), AI-driven spectrum monitoring, restrictions on cellular control of drones, and personnel training to mitigate these evolving threats.