The Department of Homeland Security is turning to net-firing drones to help keep the 2026 World Cup safe, tasking Fortem Technologies with guarding U.S. stadiums against hostile uncrewed aircraft. Rather than relying on jamming or gunfire, the plan centers on interceptors that physically capture suspect drones in midair so they can be brought down away from packed stands and crowded concourses.
The move underscores how seriously federal officials now take low-cost drone threats around high-profile events that attract global attention and large, concentrated crowds. It also signals growing confidence in Fortem’s approach to counter-drone security after earlier deployments at major tournaments abroad.
How Fortem’s deal with DHS came together
At the heart of the new security posture is a multimillion-dollar order from the Department of Homeland Security for Fortem’s DroneHunter interceptors and supporting systems. Reporting on the contract describes it as part of a broader DHS effort to protect spectators at the 2026 World Cup, with Fortem selected to deploy its equipment across U.S. venues hosting matches featuring teams from 48 nations.
Under the agreement, Fortem is expected to provide counter-drone systems at 11 World Cup venues, integrating its interceptors with sensors and command tools that can be moved as the tournament schedule shifts from city to city. The company’s press material describes the order as multimillion-dollar and focused on defending stadiums and surrounding areas from drone threats. Additional reporting notes that the contract is part of a DHS strategy to shield fans and infrastructure as the event unfolds across multiple host regions.
What DroneHunter net drones actually do
Fortem’s DroneHunter is designed as an interceptor that meets a hostile drone in the air, identifies it, then fires a tethered net to capture it intact. Company statements describe the DroneHunter as a hexcopter that uses radar and onboard autonomy to track targets before deploying a net-based capture method. The system is designed to seize suspicious aircraft and lower them to the ground without scattering debris or endangering crowds.
Accounts of Fortem’s counter-UAS work for major tournaments explain that the interceptors can be rapidly deployed and repositioned as match locations change, which is especially relevant for a World Cup that moves between host cities. One report notes that Fortem will provide DroneHunter C-UAS interceptors at U.S. venues and that the systems are designed for rapid deployment as the tournament moves across host cities.
Why DHS favors nets over jamming and gunfire
For DHS planners, the attraction of net drones lies in their ability to neutralize a threat without creating a second hazard in the form of falling wreckage or stray rounds. Shooting down a quadcopter over a full stadium risks sending fragments into the stands, while aggressive jamming can disrupt communications or interfere with broadcast operations. These concerns help explain why officials are seeking more controlled methods to handle uncrewed aircraft near World Cup sites.
Net interceptors, by contrast, are intended to capture a drone and guide it away from people, which is particularly valuable in dense urban areas around stadiums where debris could land on roads, transit hubs, or fan zones. Descriptions of Fortem’s DroneHunter emphasize that its net-based capture method is designed to avoid debris and endangering crowds. The systems can be positioned to protect venues as the tournament moves, aligning with DHS security goals.
How the systems will be used at World Cup venues
The plan for the 2026 tournament involves layering Fortem’s interceptors on top of existing detection and security measures, rather than treating them as a standalone fix. Airspace monitoring tools are expected to identify suspicious UAS activity near stadiums and fan areas, cueing DroneHunter units to investigate and, if necessary, intercept aircraft that are judged to be potential threats, a concept that aligns with descriptions of Fortem’s role protecting U.S. venues at the upcoming World Cup in counter-drone briefings.
Officials also intend for the systems to move as the tournament schedule advances, following the matches and high-traffic fan events that represent the most attractive targets. One account of the contract notes that Fortem will support 11 venues and that its systems are designed for rapid deployment as the tournament moves across host cities. This approach aligns with DHS efforts to advance drone and counter-drone technologies to improve detection and mitigation capabilities.
What this move signals for future event security
DHS’s decision to invest in net drones for the World Cup reflects a broader shift toward treating uncrewed aircraft as a central planning factor for major events, not a niche concern. The Department of Homeland Security has described drones as high-value targets for malicious actors and has placed a multimillion-dollar order for drone-catching systems to improve its capabilities against evolving UAS threats.
For Fortem Technologies, the contract reinforces its position as a leading provider of airspace security tools for large-scale events, building on prior deployments and giving the company a high-profile role in one of the world’s most watched tournaments. Company announcements describe Fortem Technologies as a provider of airspace security and counter-drone solutions and state that it has received a multimillion-dollar order to defend 2026 FIFA World Cup venues from drone threats.