FEMA Awards $625 Million for States, Cities to Secure FIFA World Cup

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded $625 million to states and cities to support security preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Announced on March 18, the funding will be distributed through the newly created FIFA World Cup Grant Program. The grants will enable state and local officials to conduct operational exercises, perform staff background checks, and strengthen cybersecurity defenses. Funds may also be used to bolster police presence and emergency response capabilities at World Cup venues, hotels, and transportation hubs.

“We are proud of the collaborative efforts between federal agencies, local partners and the White House Task Force in preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” said Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026. “This grant program provides valuable funding to host cities, helping them strengthen security operations and protect their communities.”

The FIFA World Cup Grant Program was established under President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed last year. FEMA said its staff worked for months to finalize program details, publish the funding opportunity, and review applications, despite challenges posed by multiple funding lapses that limited staffing and resources.

“The 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to be the largest sporting event in history, so it must also be the most secure,” FEMA acting Administrator Karen Evans said. “Through this program, FEMA is providing critical funding to help state and local authorities protect their communities, as well as World Cup venues, players, and attendees.”

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas)—chairman of the Homeland Security Committee’s Task Force on Securing the Homeland for Special Events—touted the importance of the FEMA program.

“While the FIFA World Cup presents a unique opportunity to showcase American leadership and excellence, we must be clear-eyed about the threats,” he said in a statement. “As we’ve learned from past events, including the Boston Marathon bombing, those who seek to do us harm often exploit events of this magnitude as a backdrop for terror. These grants will actively work to thwart those evolving dangers in today’s heightened threat environment.”

In addition to the $625 million in grants, FEMA awarded $250 million in December to World Cup host states through the Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Grant Program. The funding will help cities detect, track, and mitigate unauthorized drone activity, a growing concern as the use of unmanned aircraft by bad actors has increased in recent years.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. U.S. host cities include Los Angeles, Boston, Dallas, Miami, Philadelphia, Seattle, Atlanta, Houston; Kansas City, Missouri; the New York–New Jersey region, and the San Francisco Bay Area.