FBI Director Kash Patel issued a public warning Wednesday about the risk of foreign governments targeting dissidents and critics on American soil as millions of visitors prepare to descend on the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In a post on X, May 27, Patel described how hostile regimes try to bully, silence, or even assassinate people they view as threats.
He noted that these efforts, known as transnational repression, constitute illegal operations within the United States.
“Hostile foreign governments deliberately attempt to bully, silence, and even assassinate people on U.S. soil who they see as threats to their regimes,” Patel wrote.
He said that the FBI runs an active program to investigate and disrupt such activities.
The World Cup begins June 11 and runs through July 19 across 16 host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The United States will host the majority of matches, drawing huge crowds and international attention.
Patel said the influx of visitors over the next two months could create more opportunities for foreign agents to act.
FBI Expands Counterintelligence Operations
The FBI has placed special emphasis on this threat, saying that each of its 56 field offices now operates a multi-agency task force focused on counterintelligence.
Some offices maintain dedicated teams that work solely on transnational repression cases.
These units investigate stalking, harassment, threats, and, in extreme cases, plots to kill.
Patel emphasized that the bureau also spends time educating communities, universities, and private companies about the dangers.
The goal is to help potential targets recognize when they are being watched or pressured by agents of a foreign government.
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Foreign powers have used a range of tactics such as surveillance of exiles, pressure on family members back home, online smear campaigns, physical intimidation, and, occasionally, outright violence.
Past incidents in the U.S. and Europe have involved suspected agents from countries including China, Russia, Iran, and others targeting journalists, activists, and political opponents living abroad.
Patel urged the public to stay alert during this period. “With millions of people visiting the U.S. over the next two months as part of the FIFA tournament, we may see increases in this activity by foreign nations,” he said.
He asked Americans to serve as “an extra set of eyes and ears” and report anything suspicious.
Tips can be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov or by phone at 1-800-CALL-FBI. The FBI promised to review every credible lead.
Intelligence operatives may use large sporting events as cover, the FBI says. Crowded stadiums, hotels, and fan zones mean it’s easier to go unnoticed while gathering intelligence or making contact with targets.
World Cup Crowds Could Create Security Openings
The World Cup‘s scale, 48 teams and more than 100 matches, will stretch law enforcement resources across multiple states.
It should be noted that the FBI has not said it possesses specific intelligence about an imminent plot, but Patel’s statement reads as a preventive measure to sharpen public awareness before the tournament kicks off.
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This is not the first time the bureau has highlighted the issue. For several years, the FBI has quietly expanded its work against transnational repression, especially after high-profile cases involving Chinese influence operations and other regimes targeting diaspora communities.
Patel noted that local police departments in host cities will work closely with the FBI and other federal agencies during the tournament.
Joint operations will focus on protecting fans, players, and high-profile visitors while watching for signs of foreign interference.
The FBI has asked anyone who feels they are being followed, threatened, or harassed because of their political views or background to contact the bureau immediately.
Even seemingly minor incidents, such as unusual online activity or strangers asking detailed questions, can form part of a larger pattern.
