Iran-linked Handala Claims Hack of FBI World Cup Drones

A group identifying as Handala, linked to Iran, claims it hijacked FBI surveillance drones that were monitoring FIFA World Cup sites. The collective says it obtained live video feeds and outputs from facial-recognition and license-plate systems. Federal authorities curtailed drone flights near tournament venues while investigators review the claims.

Handala published statements and posted video clips, asserting months of access to federal drone feeds tied to counterterrorism operations around matches that began June 11, 2026. The group warned that first-person-view drones, which carry cameras and are harder to track than larger aircraft, could be used to disrupt tournament logistics or target team transports.

Officials tightened aerial security near stadiums, implementing temporary flight restrictions and geofencing. The FBI limited drone operations over sensitive perimeters while investigators examine the integrity of the materials Handala released and the underlying systems.

The Justice Department has warned about Iranian-linked cyber activity targeting U.S. infrastructure, a concern that rose after recent American-Israeli strikes on Tehran. The State Department has offered up to $10 million for information that identifies or locates the actors responsible for the Handala campaign.

Investigators traced one widely shared video circulated by Handala to a 2024 promotional clip for a software vendor showing tornado damage filmed for a U.S. police department, rather than footage captured by a federal drone. Authorities are assessing which materials, if any, reflect genuine breaches and which are recycled or misattributed content.

If federal systems were accessed, the technical risks would include exposure of identities, movements and official security responses because the drone feeds Handala names were linked to automated tools that flag faces and vehicle plates. Federal officials have not publicly confirmed a successful intrusion into those recognition databases.

Federal agencies have increased coordination with local law enforcement and event organizers to review layered defenses around venues. Handala has previously claimed breaches and published material tied to U.S. targets; U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies continue to investigate the origin and veracity of the group’s current claims and to protect systems used to secure the World Cup.