Federal agents seized multiple drones and cited several pilots who violated FAA temporary flight restrictions near SoFi Stadium during a FIFA World Cup 2026 match.
The FBI Los Angeles field office executed the enforcement action on June 12, 2026, after Friday night’s game at the Inglewood venue. Its Counter Drone Enforcement Team focused on operators who entered the restricted airspace established for the event.
Agency personnel documented the confiscated aircraft and issued citations on site. Officials confirmed that compliant operators were left undisturbed while violators received immediate penalties.
“But some were, and as promised, they were cited and had their drones seized,” the FBI Los Angeles field office stated in its public release.
Assistant Director in Charge Patrick Grandy outlined sustained operations across the tournament. “Our counter-UAS teams will be working before, during, and after FIFA games, and we will be strictly enforcing laws when it comes to violators.”
Each violation carries potential fines up to $100,000, permanent drone seizure, and possible felony charges under federal aviation statutes. The Los Angeles actions form part of coordinated counter-UAS deployments at all 11 World Cup host cities.
Law enforcement agencies monitoring major sporting events note that unauthorized UAS flights create direct hazards to manned aircraft, stadium security perimeters, and emergency response corridors. The temporary flight restrictions around SoFi Stadium were published in advance through standard FAA channels to allow legitimate operators time to adjust flight plans.
Reports from the Los Angeles Times and KTLA confirmed the FBI’s social media posts detailing the seizures and citations. The agency continues to review additional flight data from the evening to identify further violations.
