FIFA World Cup in Atlanta Sees Nearly 100 Drone Confiscations

WHO:

FOX 5 Atlanta - FBI Special Agent Marlo Graham discussed the drone seizures during the FIFA World Cup.

WHAT:

FOX 5 Atlanta - Federal agents detected nearly 1,600 unauthorized drones and seized over 700 nationwide across all 11 host cities.

FOX 5 Atlanta - 95 drones were seized in Atlanta alone during the FIFA World Cup.

FOX 5 Atlanta - Violators now face federal charges carrying up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

WHERE:

FOX 5 Atlanta - The events took place in Atlanta, Georgia, as part of the FIFA World Cup.

WHEN:

FOX 5 Atlanta - The operation established a new standard for drone mitigation during large-scale global sporting events.

WHY:

FOX 5 Atlanta - The crackdown on unauthorized drones was necessary due to safety hazards created by hobbyists flying drones into restricted airspace.

HOW:

FOX 5 Atlanta - Law enforcement relied on Remote ID technology to pinpoint the exact coordinates of pilots operating inside strict temporary flight restriction zones.

FOX 5 Atlanta - Federal teams used advanced tracking technology to locate operators on the ground and confiscate their drones.

(UPDATED July 22, 2026 01:25 UTC)

During the FIFA World Cup, federal agents detected nearly 1,600 unauthorized drones and seized over 700 of them across all 11 host cities, with 95 drones confiscated in Atlanta alone. FBI Special Agent Marlo Graham explained that violators now face federal charges that could lead to up to a year in prison and a hefty fine of $100,000, highlighting the safety hazards posed by hobbyists flying drones into restricted airspace. The operation established a new standard for drone mitigation at large-scale global sporting events, utilizing Remote ID technology to track and locate operators within strict temporary flight restriction zones.