Six Takeaways from CIS White Paper on Drone Risks at Public Gatherings

As planning ramps up for the FIFA World Cup 2026, security agencies are preparing for one of the most complex public safety environments ever staged across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

A new white paper from the Center for Internet Security (CIS) titled Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS): Evolving Risks to Large-Scale Public Gatherings. describes the challenge.  Developed with DroneSec and public safety partners including the Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), the Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Units (LEIU), the Small and Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association (SRLEEA), the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4), the New Jersey State Police (NJSP), the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), DRONERESPONDERS, and Aerisq Solutions, the paper outlines how drones are reshaping risk at large-scale events. The report makes clear that while traditional security focuses on ground threats, airspace is now a critical vulnerability.

“FIFA World Cup 2026… faces heightened UAS threat exposure across multiple domains from a broad spectrum of actors,” says the paper.

Below are six key takeaways shaping how agencies are approaching drone risk at major events.

1) The Threat Is Already Here, Not Emerging

“The proliferation of commercially available UAS technology has created a viable, diverse, and rapidly evolving threat for large-scale public gatherings.”

Commercial drones are now widely available, capable, and easy to operate. The barrier to misuse has dropped sharply, making drone-related incidents a current reality, not a future concern.

2) Battlefield Tactics Are Spreading Fast

“The wars in Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, and the broader Middle East have served as proving grounds for drone warfare innovation.”

Techniques developed in conflict zones are now documented, shared, and adapted globally. This creates a fast-moving threat environment where tactics evolve outside traditional military channels.

3) Disruption, Not Destruction, Is the Most Likely Scenario

“The most probable UAS threat scenario for a large-scale event does not require a weaponized platform.”

Even a single unauthorized drone can delay matches, trigger evacuations, or create crowd panic. Operational disruption may be more likely than direct attack.

4) Detection Technology Has Critical Gaps

“Detection technologies… continue to face limitations.”

False positives, dense urban environments, and difficulty identifying operator intent make it hard to distinguish harmless drones from real threats in real time.

5) New Drone Types Can Evade Existing Defenses

“This wired connection completely bypasses the RF spectrum, rendering the entire category of RF-based detection and jamming countermeasures ineffective.”

Emerging systems like fiber-optic controlled drones can defeat many current counter-UAS tools, forcing a rethink of detection strategies.

6) Open-Air Crowds Are the Weakest Link

“Fan zones… present fundamentally different security challenges: open airspace, limited physical perimeter to control, dense crowds… and minimal existing security infrastructure.”

While stadiums benefit from layered security, surrounding areas like fan zones and transit hubs may be more exposed to drone activity.

Bottom Line

There’s a lot more to unpack, but the CIS report underscores a clear shift: drones are now part of the operational environment for major events. For the World Cup and other major events, success will depend not only on technology, but on coordination, awareness, and the ability to manage risks that come from above as much as from the ground.

Read more:

• Counter-Drone Systems Begin to Shape Civil Airspace Rules
• Will States Be Ready with Counter Drone Tech for the FIFA World Cup?
• Is the U.S. Ready for Drone Threats at World Cup Scale?