World Cup: US faces security challenge amid wars and migrant crackdown

The United States is preparing for an unprecedented security challenge as it hosts the World Cup, with authorities fine-tuning a massive operation to ensure the tournament's smooth running. The security apparatus faces a complex landscape, influenced by the ongoing war in Iran, recent attacks on the president, and concerns over cyber threats. These factors complicate the task of safeguarding fans and teams.

Immigration agents are also facing difficulties due to strict entry regulations imposed by the Trump administration. An example is the case of Somali referee Omar Artan, who was detained, interrogated for 11 hours, and then put on a return flight to Istanbul. Somalia, a country reportedly disliked by Trump due to its association with Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar, defended its referee and sought an immediate resolution, but without success.

In Tehran, controversy also erupted, with the Iranian Football Federation accusing the United States of revoking their ticket allocation, creating an "obstacle" for Iranian fans' attendance. Andrew Giuliani, son of the former New York mayor and executive director of the White House World Cup task force, described the event as equivalent to "78 Super Bowls in 39 days." The tournament is classified at the same federal security level as the Super Bowl, just below a presidential inauguration or political convention.

The World Cup coincides with the U.S. 250th anniversary celebrations, which will culminate on July 4th after weeks of events. While authorities have reported no credible threats so far, the alert level is at its highest, considering recent stabbings in New York and clashes between fans and police during the NBA finals. The FBI has spent two years preparing, drawing lessons from past events like the Thanksgiving Day Parade and New Year's Eve celebrations in Times Square, as well as the recent Israel Day parade. Security measures will include drones, robot dogs for bag inspection, X-ray trucks, and thousands of AI-equipped cameras. The presence of Trump at an NBA game served as a preliminary test for his potential attendance at a World Cup match.

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For us it is like having 78 Super Bowls in 39 days.