By Adam Hursh
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest sporting event ever held in the United States. With 78 matches spread across 11 cities and an estimated five million visitors expected during the tournament, public safety agencies are preparing for an event unlike any other. Fire departments in these host regions will carry major responsibility. They must manage crowded venues, increased EMS demand, inspection needs, multi-agency operations and mass care concerns that accompany a global event of this scale.
To address these challenges, the federal government created two grant programs. The FIFA World Cup Grant Program (FWCGP) provides $625 million in fiscal year 2026 to help host cities build staffing, equipment and planning capacity needed for this series of high-risk events. The Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Grant Program (C-UAS) offers $250 million in fiscal year 2026 and another $250 million in 2027 to assist public safety agencies in detecting, tracking, identifying and when permitted, mitigating drone threats. Both programs offer resources that can help the fire service prepare for the World Cup and for future large gatherings.
A closer look at FWCGP
The FWCGP is a new standalone program created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025. It was designed after DHS designated all U.S. World Cup matches as SEAR I and II events, which signals elevated security concerns. The United States, Canada and Mexico are co-hosting the tournament, with the United States handling the bulk of the matches. Past large events, including the Olympic Games in 1984, 1996 and 2002, also received federal support. With modern threats aimed at high-profile activities worldwide, the need for federal backing is greater than ever.
The goal of FWCGP is to help the 11 Host City Committee Task Forces carry out the complex work required for safe match operations. Funds can support security measures at stadiums, hotels, transit hubs, fan zones and other high-risk sites. This includes training, readiness exercises, cybersecurity defense, background checks and enhanced police and emergency response capabilities. The program also backs planning for continuity of operations, hazard assessments and the wide range of pre-incident work needed before spectators arrive.
Executive Order 14234 created the White House Task Force on the World Cup to guide planning and coordination for the tournament. That task force will work with DHS, FEMA and the Host City Committees throughout the process.
How FWCGP funds move to local agencies
The program’s structure places the State Administrative Agency at the center of the application system. SAAs are the only bodies allowed to submit applications to FEMA. They must pass through 100 percent of the award to the Host City Committees. These committees choose projects and then issue subawards to local governments. Fire departments in the host cities must work through these committees to request support. It is also important to note that decisions are not limited to agencies inside the city limits. Departments in the larger host city region that provide direct support during World Cup operations can also be eligible as long as their role aligns with the security and response needs identified by the Host City Committee.
Eligible host cities include Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, the New York and New Jersey region, Philadelphia, the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle.
A major share of FWCGP funding will support personnel costs. FEMA expects about 94 percent of the award to go toward operational overtime. Because these events stretch fire and EMS staffing far beyond normal levels, overtime will be essential. FEMA will treat any application requesting more than the fifty percent personnel cap as a built-in waiver request, which simplifies the process for large agencies.
How fire departments can use FWCGP
FWCGP allows a wide range of eligible activities. Fire departments can seek support for:
• CBRNE search and rescue equipment
• Personal protective gear
• Inspection and screening tools
• Cybersecurity enhancement equipment
• Power and backup systems
• Critical emergency supplies
• UAS (drones) for public safety operations
• Planning and assessment projects
• Training, overtime, backfill and HSEEP-compliant exercises
The operational needs tied to the World Cup are broad. Fire departments will support EMS coverage, code enforcement at temporary structures, fire suppression readiness, pre-incident surveys at hotels and practice fields, and safety work at crowded entertainment areas. The FWCGP gives departments the chance to build the staffing and equipment base needed for these duties.
The growing need for C-UAS capability
The C-UAS Grant Program was established in fiscal year 2026 in response to the growing use of drones for illicit or harmful purposes. It is shaped by Executive Order 14305, “Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty” and guidance from the World Cup Task Force and field experts. Drones can disrupt aircraft, surveillance systems, fireground operations and large crowd environments. They can also be used for hostile intent in ways that threaten both responders and the public.
The C-UAS program equips state, local, tribal and territorial agencies with the technology and training to detect, track, identify and when permitted, mitigate drone threats. This includes fixed systems, portable systems and software tools that create a shared view of airspace activity. Fire departments benefit from this because drones can interfere with ladder operations, helicopter landings, fire investigations and tactical response around large crowds.
Mitigation tools such as non-kinetic or kinetic disruptors may only be funded for law enforcement or correctional agencies trained or scheduled for training at the FBI’s National C-UAS Training Center. Even when fire departments do not use mitigation equipment, they rely on these systems for safe coordination with law enforcement in complex environments.
In fiscal year 2026, C UAS eligibility is limited to the National Capital Region and the 11 World Cup host cities. In fiscal year 2027, it will expand to all states and territories. This expansion will support America250 events and other high-profile gatherings.
Building lasting capability beyond 2026
The FWCGP and C UAS programs work together to build stronger local safety systems. FWCGP strengthens the planning and response structure for the matches. C UAS strengthens airspace awareness and protection. Fire departments will rely on both to manage the challenges tied to large crowds, complex transportation patterns, peak EMS demand and modern security threats.
The equipment and planning funded by these programs will outlast the World Cup. Generators, protective gear, detection systems and updated plans will improve daily operations long after the event ends.
As the 2026 tournament approaches, fire departments in eligible cities should begin working closely with their Host City Committees and state agencies to ensure a seamless operation. Early coordination, strong justification and clear documentation will help ensure the fire service receives the necessary tools and staffing to protect both residents and visitors during a historic moment for the country.
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