An Iran-linked hacker group claimed it breached FBI drones and issued a chilling threat against the World Cup as the massive tournament opened across North America, according to a report.
Handala, a pro-Palestine cyber threat group, alleged it had access to “every image and every suspect” for months ahead of the soccer tournament, which kicked off Thursday.
The group claimed the first-person view drones were equipped with facial recognition and license plate screening technology and were being used for counterterrorism purposes, according to SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist activity.
‘Better tighten your World Cup security, we don’t like some of those teams at all. Don’t forget: FPVs are everywhere; you never know when one might end up right in your team’s bus,’ Handala warned in the statement quoted by SITE.
The group published alleged photos and video footage that it claimed came from the hacked drones.
SITE, however, disputed that claim.
The warning came just hours before the United States Men’s National Team was set to open its World Cup campaign against Paraguay on Friday.
The United States is co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico, making this year’s tournament the biggest in the event’s history.
A breach of federal drone systems would represent a major security threat as U.S. authorities work to protect thousands of international fans, players and staff arriving for the tournament.
The FBI is deploying drones around host stadiums and tournament-related fan events in the United States to protect games from unauthorized aircraft.
Unmanned aerial vehicles have been banned from flying over designated stadiums and fan zones.
The Justice Department has previously warned of potential cyberattacks by Iranian actors after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran in February triggered the latest round of conflict in the Middle East.
🇮🇷🇺🇸 An Iran-linked hacker group is claiming to have breached FBI drone systems and is now threatening to target the World Cup, which kicked off this week.
The threat hasn’t been verified, but the framing is deliberate: they’re not just claiming a breach; they’re using it as… pic.twitter.com/Ol36UybITV
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 12, 2026
Handala has already been tied to high-profile cyber claims.
In March, the group claimed it hacked the email account of FBI Director Kash Patel and posted personal photos and other material online.
The material uploaded by the hackers appeared to include personal and work correspondence from 2010 to 2019.
The State Department has offered a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification of members of the group.
The alleged drone hack is the latest controversy to hit a World Cup already plagued by travel problems, violence, political tensions, high costs and security concerns.
Visa and entry issues have become a major source of frustration, with several fans, journalists and even officials reportedly running into trouble obtaining visas or entering the United States.
One of the most high-profile cases involved Somali referee Omar Artan, regarded as one of Africa’s leading officials.
Although Artan had been selected for the tournament, he was removed from FIFA’s referee list after American authorities denied him entry upon arrival at Miami airport.
A Trump administration official claimed the denial was tied to Artan’s alleged ‘association with suspected members of terror organizations.’
The tournament opener in Mexico City was also marred by violent protests Thursday as riot police fired tear gas at demonstrators outside the stadium.
What was supposed to be a global celebration instead became a chaotic political scene as protesters tried to draw international attention to missing citizens and poor labor conditions in Mexico.
Mexico went on to beat South Africa 2-0, but the unrest outside the stadium threatened to overshadow the tournament’s opening match.
Iran’s participation in the World Cup has also been clouded by the wider conflict in the Middle East.
Iran’s players trained in front of reporters Thursday at their base camp in Mexico, giving the world its first look at a team whose tournament run is unfolding under the shadow of war with the United States.
The squad moved its training camp to Tijuana after originally planning to base in Arizona because of Iran’s conflict with the U.S.
Iran’s team has said little since arriving for the tournament last Sunday.
During Thursday’s training session, reporters were given 15 minutes to watch a small group of players run through warm-up drills.
Only about a dozen players from the 26-man squad were present, and star striker Mehdi Taremi was not among them.
Iran is scheduled to play its first match Monday in Los Angeles against New Zealand.
Last week, Iran’s ambassador to Mexico told reporters the squad would only be allowed into the United States on the day of its games and would have to leave immediately afterward.
Iran’s presence in the tournament comes three months after the United States and Israel launched attacks on the country, setting off hostilities that pulled much of the Middle East into crisis and rattled the global economy.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the organization’s handling of the tournament’s growing list of issues Wednesday.
But the alleged threat from an Iran-linked hacking group adds a new layer of concern for U.S. officials already facing a massive security test.
For law enforcement, the nightmare scenario is clear: a global sporting event, packed stadiums, international teams and a hostile cyber group claiming it has found a way into the security apparatus.
Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>
