The FBI says its already seized 13 drones in Atlanta near World Cup stadiums and pilots could face fines up to $100,000 if they dont follow these new rules

Date:
Tue, 16 Jun 2026 10:57:50 +0000

Description:
The FBI has seized dozens of drones and cited operators near US World Cup stadiums for breaching no-fly zones. Heres what the restrictions cover, how
to check before you fly, and what to bring instead if you want footage of the festivities -- If youve recently picked up a
new drone (or youre thinking about flying one near a World Cup host city this summer), youll want to read this before you head out.

The FBI has spent the past week confiscating drones and citing pilots near stadiums hosting FIFA World Cup 2026 matches and the agency has made it
clear it isnt messing around. Around 15 drones were seized near
SoFi Stadium and the L.A. Memorial Coliseum over a single weekend, with multiple operators cited for violating temporary flight restrictions,
according to the FBIs Los Angeles Field Office.

Down in South Florida, the FBIs Miami division separately confiscated nine drones and fined seven operators near Hard Rock Stadium and the Bayfront Park Fan Festival, with the FBIs Atlanta office also reporting seizures from three operators. Its a pattern thats likely to repeat
itself across the tournaments 11 US host cities. The FAA has designated World Cup stadiums as strict No Drone Zones on match days, and law enforcement has been blunt about its approach.

We have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to drones violating the
temporary flight restrictions, said Amir Ehsaei, special agent in charge of counterterrorism and crisis response at the FBIs LA Field Office .

Over in Florida, Brett Skiles, special agent in charge of FBI Miami, struck a similarly firm tone : Public safety is our top priority. Our agents and law enforcement partners are authorized by the Department of Justice to use specialized mitigation tools to intercept and seize drones that breach these restrictions.

So if youre packing a drone for a trip to a host city (or you simply live in
or near one), heres what you actually need to know. (Image credit: Future)
What the no-fly zones cover The restricted areas are larger than many casual fliers might assume. The FAA prohibits all aircraft operations, including drones, within a 3-nautical-mile radius and up to 3,000 feet above ground
level around stadiums hosting World Cup matches. Thats roughly a 5.5km bubble stretching nearly a kilometer into the sky, centered on the venue.

At SoFi Stadium specifically, that 3-nautical-mile, 3,000-foot restriction applies on match days, while fan festival venues like the L.A. Memorial Coliseum carry their own ban, covering a 1-nautical-mile radius up to 1,000 feet above ground level.

Similar temporary flight restrictions (TFRs for short) apply at other venues hosting games this summer, including Levis Stadium in Santa Clara, Lumen
Field in Seattle, Gillette Stadium in Boston and New Jersey's MetLife Stadium (which will host the tournament's final).

If youre traveling to a host city for any stretch of the tournament, its
worth assuming the airspace around the stadium could be locked down on any given day, not just during the match itself. The penalties for getting
it wrong are steep. Violators could face fines of up to $100,000 and federal criminal charges, and thats on top of losing the drone itself. The FBI isnt
shy about confiscating hardware on the spot, and it has been actively monitoring airspace around match events using a dedicated Counter Drone Enforcement Team.

The good news is that checking whether youre in a restricted zone takes about 30 seconds. The TFR section of the FAA website lists all active temporary flight restrictions by location and date, and apps like B4UFLY pull this data into an easy map view; both are worth checking if youre heading anywhere near
a host city this summer. The FAA pushes out updates as restrictions are
added, so its worth double checking on the day itself, not just the week before. If your World Cup trip plans
included grabbing some striking footage of the festivities, it might be time
to turn to other gear instead. A good action camera or gimbal-stabilized handheld like the new Insta360 Luna Ultra will get you sweeping, cinematic shots of the fan zones and surrounding areas without any risk of a federal agent walking over to confiscate your kit and levy a hefty fine.

Happy shooting!

Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/cameras/drones/the-fbi-says-its-already-seized-13-dr ones-in-atlanta-near-world-cup-stadiums-and-pilots-could-face-fines-up-to-usd1 00-000-if-they-dont-follow-these-new-rules

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