The Miami Police issued an official warning on social media this Thursday directed at fans of the FIFA World Cup 2026: flying drones at any event of the tournament is strictly prohibited and may result in fines of up to 100,000 dollars, federal criminal charges, and immediate confiscation of the device.
The notice reminds that the restrictions of the Federal Aviation Administration are in effect at all venues of the World Cup and at official event locations, including the FIFA FanFest at Bayfront Park in Miami.
"All FIFA events, including FIFA FanFest, are designated as Drone-Free Zones. If you are caught flying a drone, you could face severe penalties, including fines of over $100,000, imprisonment, and the confiscation of your drone," warned a Miami police officer in a video posted alongside the message.
The no-fly zones extend three nautical miles around the stadiums, up to 3,000 feet above ground level, during the active windows of each game.
Temporary Flight Restrictions are published three to five days before each event and revoke any prior authorizations, including professional remote pilot licenses.
There are two types of penalties: civil fines of up to $75,000 for violations and criminal fines of up to $100,000, along with the possibility of immediate arrest.
Brett Skiles, special agent in charge of the FBI office in Miami, clarified in May that the consequences "include civil penalties, fines of up to $100,000, up to one year in prison, and the confiscation of your drone."
The Miami Police stated that the security approach will be "multi-layered" and will include the confiscation of drones directly at the event location.
To enforce the restrictions, authorities have deployed radar, optical and infrared cameras, fixed detection antennas, portable radio frequency receivers, and artificial intelligence software such as DedroneTracker.
Andrew Bailey, Deputy Director of the FBI, was emphatic: "We will detect and neutralize any unauthorized drone activity that threatens the matches and events of the Fan Festival."
The investment in security reflects the magnitude of the event. Florida approved 16 million dollars to equip the Florida Department of Law Enforcement with drone detection technology, as part of a state security investment that exceeds 80 million dollars.
At the national level, the Department of Homeland Security allocated 500 million dollars for anti-drone systems for the tournament.
The background motivating these measures is the chaos experienced at the 2024 Copa América final at the same Hard Rock Stadium, when thousands of fans without tickets forced their way in, causing a delay of over an hour in the start of the match between Argentina and Colombia, resulting in 27 arrests and 55 expulsions.
Anyone who sees someone flying a drone at any event should call 911, alert a nearby agent, or dial 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Miami will host seven matches of the 2026 World Cup at Hard Rock Stadium, from June 15 to July 18, including the match for third and fourth place.
“We encourage you to enjoy the tournament, but please leave your drones at home,” summarized Adam Stahl, Deputy Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.
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