The U.S. Department of Homeland Security redirected the « vast majority » of funds originally earmarked for countering Chinese threats to secure the 2026 World Cup matches on American soil. The 2025 « One Big Beautiful Bill Act » allocated $625 million for World Cup security grants administered through FEMA and DHS, plus an additional $500 million for counter-unmanned aerial systems. Budget disruptions throughout 2025 and early 2026 delayed disbursements to host cities. The operation proved effective: over 400,000 counterfeit items were seized and counter-drone capabilities were tested in real-world conditions, with the multi-agency effort deemed a success.
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