FAA Announces Strict Airspace Restrictions for FIFA World Cup 2026

At the request of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice, the Federal Aviation Administration will establish airspace restrictions over certain FIFA World Cup 2026 matches and related fan events. NOTAMs will be issued depicting 99.7 “Special Security Instruction” Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) to be implemented as follows:

Under the authority granted by 49 U.S.C., the FAA may apply restrictions within airspace under its jurisdiction. Any person who knowingly and willingly violates these restrictions may be subject to certain criminal and/or civil penalties. Pilots who violate security TFRs or procedures may be intercepted, detained and interviewed by Law Enforcement/Security Personnel. They may also be subject to the following actions:

1. The FAA may take administrative action, including imposing civil penalties and the suspension or revocation of airmen certificates;

2. The United States Government may pursue criminal charges, including charges under Title 49 of the United States Code, Section 46307;

3. The United States Government may use deadly force against the airborne aircraft, if it is determined that the aircraft poses an imminent security threat.

AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS IN THE VICINITY OF FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 MATCHES:

Within a 3 Nautical Mile Radius (NMR) and up to 3,000ft AGL, unless otherwise authorized by ATC, all aircraft operations are prohibited in the vicinity of the following locations. Check NOTAMs for exact dates, times, and restrictions:

Venue	City, State	Dates (2026)
SoFi Stadium	Los Angeles, CA	June 12, 15, 18, 21, 25, 28, July 2, 10
Levi’s Stadium	Santa Clara, CA	June 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, July 1
Lumen Field	Seattle, WA	June 15, 19, 24, 26, July 1, 6
AT&T Stadium	Arlington, TX	June 14, 17, 22, 25, 27, 30, July 3, 6, 14
NRG Stadium	Houston, TX	June 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, July 4
Mercedes-Benz Stadium	Atlanta, GA	June 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, July 1, 7, 15
Gillette Stadium	Foxborough, MA	June 13, 16, 19, 23, 26, 29, July 9
Hard Rock Stadium	Miami, FL	June 15, 21, 24, 27, July 3, 11, 18
Arrowhead Stadium	Kansas City	June 16, 20, 25, 27, July 3, 11
Metlife Stadium	East Rutherford, NJ	June 13, 16, 22, 25, 27, 30, July 5, 19
Lincoln Financial Field	Philadelphia, PA	June 14, 19, 22, 25, 27, July 4

UAS ACTIVITY IN THE VICINITY OF FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 SPONSORED EVENTS:

Within a 1 Nautical Mile Radius (NMR) and up to 1,000ft AGL, unless otherwise authorized, all UAS operations are prohibited in the vicinity of the following locations. Check NOTAMs for exact dates and times:

Venue	City, State	Dates (2026)
LA Memorial Coliseum	Los Angeles, CA	June 10-15
Dallas Fair Park	Dallas, TX	June 11-30, July 1-7, 9-11, 14, 15, 18, 19
East Downtown District	Houston, TX	June 11-30, July 1-7, 9-11, 14, 15, 18, 19
Centennial Olympic Park	Atlanta, GA	June 12-15, 17-21, 24, 26, 27, July 1, 7, 14, 15
City Hall Plaza	Boston, MA	June 11-26
Bayfront Park	Miami, FL	June 13-30, July 1-5
National WWI Museum and Memorial	Kansas City, MO	June 9, 11-14, 16, 19-21, 24-27, July 1, 3, 4-7, 9-12
Sports Illustrated Stadium	Harrison, NJ	June 13-30, July 1-16
Louis Armstrong Stadium	Flushing, NY	June 11-27
Emily Warren Roebling Plaza	Brooklyn, NY	June 19
Rockefeller Center	New York, NY	July 4-19
Lemon Hill Park	Philadelphia, PA	June 11-30, July 1-19

UAS ACTIVITY

UAS operators who do not comply with applicable airspace restrictions are warned that pursuant to 10 U.S.C. section 130(i), and 6 U.S.C. section 124(n), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Department of Defense (DOD) may take security action that results in the interference, disruption, seizure, damaging, or destruction of unmanned aircraft deemed to pose a credible safety or security threat to protected personnel, facilities, or assets.

UAS operations are authorized within the defined SSI airspace if in compliance with the requirements listed below:

1) Prior to TFR activation, the UAS flight operation has been pre-approved by the FAA System Operations Support Center (SOSC) at 202-267-8276 based on criteria established by the sponsoring federal agency in coordination with the FAA;

2) Requests for pre-approved UAS flight operations can expect disposition of their request in a minimum of 24 hours;

3) If the pre-approved UAS flight operation is conducted in direct support of an active national defense, homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting, search and rescue, or disaster response mission, and prior notification has been provided to the designated facility contact; or

4) If the pre-approved UAS flight operation is conducted in direct support of a significant and urgent governmental interest and is approved by the FAA SOSC in advance of entering the defined SSI airspace; and

5) The pre-approved UAS flight operation complies with all other applicable federal aviation regulations.

Warning

The FAA recommends that all aircraft operators check NOTAMs OFTEN for mandatory airspace restrictions prior to operations within this region. Specific instructions and restrictions are available at http://tfr.faa.gov once the NOTAM has been issued.

FAA