WASHINGTON – Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) called on the Trump administration to address the federal government’s delayed coordination and security commitments ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held throughout North America in June and July. The event will include 78 matches played in nearly a dozen U.S. cities and is expected to draw nearly five million fans from around the globe, making it the largest sporting event in history.
“The lead federal agency responsible for protecting Americans from threats to the homeland, DHS plays a central role in preparing for and securing the event. Yet the Trump administration has taken numerous actions—such as systematically dismantling security agencies, delaying critical security assistance, and initiating a war with Iran—that make the Department woefully unprepared to accomplish its mission,” Senator Gallego wrote in a letter to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “Taken together, these actions are not just irresponsible—they represent a dereliction of duty with life-or-death consequences that impede coordination and make Americans and World Cup fans less safe.”
State and local law enforcement are on the front lines of preparing for and securing the World Cup, but host cities have raised alarms about delays in receiving nearly $2 billion in federal security grants and a lack of clear federal coordination. Staffing cuts at key DHS agencies —including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Office of Intelligence and Analysis, and the Office of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction —further weaken the country’s ability to respond to security threats.
Heightening these concerns, Trump’s recent war with Iran has significantly elevated the risk of terrorist attacks, especially given the World Cup’s logistical complexity and high-profile nature.
“If state and local officials do not trust that federal employees will coordinate in lockstep and operate as partners, they will be unable to protect their communities—increasing threat risk and compromising Americans’ safety in the process,” Senator Gallego continued. “This self-imposed chaos extends to the Trump administration’s management of federal departments and agencies. President Trump has systematically dismantled DHS agencies responsible for preparing for and securing the World Cup. […] These actions weaken the very agencies responsible for securing events like the World Cup, leave states and localities on the hook, and create avoidable national security vulnerabilities that put Americans in harm’s way.”
Read the full letter HERE.