What every agency must have in place for high-risk events
In 2026, agencies across the U.S. will be tasked with securing high-profile, high-stakes events, including Super Bowl 60, the FIFA World Cup and America 250, demanding advanced coordination, threat detection, communications reliability and life-saving response capabilities. When the pressure’s on, will your agency’s systems hold up? Police1’s Securing 2026 coverage will help public safety leaders identify vulnerabilities, tools and strategies to secure their communities.
Before your next major event, learn what one of the nation’s most experienced event-planning teams wishes every agency knew
FEATURED CONTENT
From drone threats to packed transit hubs, law enforcement is managing a continuous, cross-border security challenge unlike anything seen before
Large-scale security planning requires redundancy, repetition and a culture of readiness
From a hoax school shooting to Boston Marathon planning, real-world incidents show how relationships and pre-event coordination determine outcomes
As threats grow more complex, police leaders must treat special event planning as a continuous, intelligence-driven discipline
From camera integration and AI tools to encrypted information-sharing groups and World Cup planning, public and private partners are creating a two-way security ecosystem
A new, unified approach to public event safety is moving jurisdictions from reactive to proactive protection — driven by partnerships, data and purpose
Atlanta Police and agencies across the U.S. are adopting European crowd-management tactics, formation riding techniques and horse desensitization training to prepare for massive crowds and complex security challenges
DRONE SECURITY
FBI and LASD leaders said flight restrictions would be in place above all World Cup venues and that teams will be deployed to identify drones and bring them down
What law enforcement can do right now to address malicious drone activity, even as legislation struggles to keep pace
New counter-UAS systems funded through a FEMA grant will help Texas DPS detect, track and mitigate unauthorized drones during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and other events
WEBINARS & DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES
POLICING MATTERS PODCAST
From real-time intelligence to heat mitigation and regional mutual aid, one Kansas agency is building a team-of-teams strategy for a global event without hosting a single match
Lt. Zimmer and Capt. Mocello share how agencies can streamline event operations with scalable planning, intelligence-led tactics and tech like drones and AI, even with limited resources
IN THE NEWS
“From the ground to the sky, the Secret Service and our partners have it covered,” said Matt McCool, special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s New York office
The initiative will make 4,547 match tickets available through Vet Tix and 1st Tix for officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, registered nurses, dispatchers, veterans and active-duty military
Among the updated guidance, NENA said telecommunicators should check the ALI NAM field for international callback numbers rather than rely on ANI
The LAPD is seeking 520 recruits for the next fiscal year, but projected officer losses mean the force would grow by only about 10 officers
Between June 15 and July 15, Atlanta will host eight matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium; the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office is preparing with drones and inter-agency coordination
Boston Police Capt. Det. Terry Thomas stated that the agency plans to scale up existing programs
Oscars executive producer Raj Kapoor said those working on the show always “monitor what’s going on in the world” and “have the support of the FBI and the LAPD”
“I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” Trump stated
The city is one of 11 U.S. host locations preparing for the event and is seeking a portion of the $625 million in federal grants offered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
The Counter Drone State and Local Defender Act would allow state and local agencies to apply for authorization to disable drones during major events, including the 2026 World Cup
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