Seattle law enforcement agencies are ramping up a citywide security plan as the FIFA World Cup nears.
SEATTLE — Seattle is preparing for an unprecedented global spotlight when the FIFA World Cup arrives in just over three weeks and law enforcement agencies say safety planning has been years in the making.
An estimated 750,000 visitors are expected to travel to the region as Seattle hosts six matches over the three-week stretch, making it one of the most significant events the city has ever handled.
“I think there’s really nothing that’s going to be at the same level of this World Cup,” said Mike Herrington, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “This is expected to be the biggest sporting event ever.”
Federal, state, and local agencies have been coordinating for years, building a layered security plan that spans air, land, and transit systems.
Herrington said the FBI will play a key support role, working alongside local partners and deploying specialized resources if needed.
“We are working very closely with all of them to provide whatever support they need,” he said. “We have specialized teams, such as our SWAT team, such as our bomb tech team, that can support their efforts in the case of an incident.”
One major focus will be monitoring airspace over Seattle, including detecting and potentially disabling unauthorized drones.
On the ground, the Seattle Police Department is planning a large-scale, citywide operation.
“Across the footprint, more than 450 officers [will be] deployed,” said SPD Captain Dan Nelson.
Nelson said planning for the World Cup has been underway for the past three years. The strategy includes both uniformed and undercover officers stationed around Lumen Field, fan zones, and key transit hubs.
The city is also preparing for four separate fan celebration hubs, each requiring crowd control and traffic management.
“You’re going to have all the crowd management and uniformed police officer presence to manage that,” Nelson said. “You’ll have all the traffic impacts, so we have a pretty sizeable deployment to manage the traffic control plan.”
The King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) will also significantly increase staffing across what officials call the FIFA Core Service Area, which includes a perimeter around Lumen Field, which will be called Seattle Stadium due to FIFA’s no sponsorship rule.
More than 200 deputies will be on duty during each match day, with a strong emphasis on public transportation.
KCSO officials say both uniformed and undercover deputies will patrol buses and trains, where large crowds are expected.
The county is also working with federal partners on counter-drone technology to protect restricted airspace during matches. County officials said about 50 drones will be deployed to provide real-time situational awareness during the event. Authorities emphasize the drones will respond to incidents, not conduct general surveillance.
With hundreds of thousands of visitors expected and multiple events happening across the region, officials say the scale of the World Cup will require coordination at every level.
