The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), through its National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL), played a critical role in securing the recent FIFA World Cup by implementing advanced counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) strategies across U.S. host cities. NUSTL teams conducted extensive site surveys in January, February, and March 2026, providing detailed guidance to federal, state, and local law enforcement, as well as stadium owners, on optimal C-UAS equipment placement for timely threat detection.
Each of the eight U.S. venues required a customized security plan, considering factors such as 360-degree line-of-sight analysis and radio frequency (RF) spectrum analysis. NUSTL engineers assessed rooftop physical characteristics for equipment deployment and identified potential interference sources like dense Wi-Fi and broadcast signals. This meticulous planning ensured maximum coverage for securing the national airspace throughout the month-long tournament.
"Conducting the C-UAS sensor site surveys required extensive coordination with federal agencies—including DHS, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Aviation Administration, and the Federal Communications Commission—as well as state and local law enforcement and emergency management," said NUSTL Engineer Teddy Damour. The team also collaborated with private infrastructure operators, securing access to various buildings, from parking decks to hotels, to strategically place C-UAS equipment and measure local cellular infrastructure demands.
To synthesize the vast amount of collected data, NUSTL’s Dr. Alex Sedunov developed a map-based engineering tool. This innovative tool allowed for the virtual placement of multiple C-UAS sensors on citywide maps, visualizing detection coverage at different altitudes and integrating RF survey results, line-of-sight analyses, and detailed photo documentation. This enabled DHS Component C-UAS leads to make informed decisions about sensor deployment and optimize overall system coverage.
NUSTL's work extended beyond the tournament, with after-action reports being collected from host cities to refine guidance and tools. The lessons learned from the World Cup are expected to significantly inform the planning and execution of future large-scale events, including the multi-city Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics. Damour emphasized, "Building on the experience gained from the World Cup, NUSTL will continue to provide state and local partners, as well as DHS Components, with comprehensive C-UAS technical support."