HOUSTON – With the FIFA World Cup 2026 set to arrive in Houston in just days, federal law enforcement officials are warning the public to stay alert and report suspicious activity as massive crowds begin pouring into the city.
More than half a million visitors are expected in Houston during the tournament, prompting heightened security preparations from federal, state, and local agencies.
According to FBI Houston officials, one of the biggest concerns heading into the games is the threat posed by “lone offenders” — individuals who may act independently to carry out violent attacks.
“Absolutely, lone offenders,” said Isis Jones, Senior Supervisory Intelligence Analyst for FBI Houston, when asked what keeps her up at night ahead of the World Cup. “That is the one thing that keeps me up at night — trying to prevent and do early detection warning signs to identify homegrown violent extremists.”
Jones pointed to recent high-profile attacks involving individuals acting alone, including the attacker who drove a truck down Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing more than a dozen people.
Officials say those types of suspects are especially difficult to detect because they often operate in isolation.
“Lone offenders typically operate in silos,” Jones explained. “They’re not communicative with a number of people who may not understand what their true intentions or plans are.”
Authorities are particularly concerned about potential threats targeting crowded public areas, including transit systems and gathering spaces connected to World Cup events.
The FBI says the public could play a critical role in identifying warning signs before violence occurs.
Jones said sudden behavioral changes tied to significant financial struggles, divorce, or mental health concerns may sometimes be indicators worth reporting.
“If we had advance warning or notification of some of those indicators, it allows us to be able to get in front of a threat,” she said.
Officials are also urging fans attending matches and public events to remain aware of their surroundings and pay attention to suspicious behavior inside large crowds.
“People that are coming to the FIFA World Cup events are there to see these games,” said Jason Hudson, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Houston. “So, if you’re seeing someone or a group whose attention is not on that — maybe their attention is on the people attending or the security measures being deployed — that’s something that should be reported.”
The FBI recommends attendees know where exits are located and identify where law enforcement officers are stationed before events begin.
Authorities are encouraging the public not to assume someone else has already reported suspicious activity.
“If they see something that is out of the normal, if they see something that just doesn’t make sense, they need to contact law enforcement,” Hudson said.
FBI agents, alongside state and local partner agencies, will operate from a centralized command post during the tournament to monitor threats and respond to tips in real time.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov.