HOUSTON — Houston officials said they are preparing security and public safety measures, including possible use of surveillance drones, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will bring seven matches to the city from June 14 to July 4.
Larry Satterwhite, director of Houston’s Public Safety and Homeland Security office, said the city has increased training and equipment but declined to provide specifics about drone operations.
“We have extra training, we have extra equipment, that’s probably as far as I’m going to go with that,” Satterwhite said. “But we are definitely leaning into everything trying to ensure a safe event.”
He said he could not describe the scope of drone usage or what the devices would monitor.
Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz said the department will be fully staffed throughout the tournament and described the city’s preparedness.
“We’re very prepared. We’re over-prepared,” Diaz said.
Diaz and other officials spoke during a news conference Tuesday outlining security, transportation, public health, and interagency coordination efforts leading up to the tournament.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire said planning has been underway for about two years and emphasized coordination among local, state, and federal partners.
“Public safety was our highest priority before FIFA, during FIFA, and it’ll be after FIFA,” Whitmire said. “But it’s much more than just law and order. It’s public health, it’s transportation, it’s collaboration with our state partners.”
Officials said the Houston Police Department will serve as the lead law enforcement agency during the event. Diaz said staffing levels will remain fully supported throughout the tournament despite its three-week duration.
Houston Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz said the fire department will also maintain full staffing to handle both World Cup-related and routine emergency calls.
“All hands on deck from the fire side,” Muñoz said.
Health officials said the primary public health concerns during the tournament include heat-related illness, food-borne illness, and vaccine-preventable diseases. Houston Health Department Director Dr. Theresa Tran advised residents and visitors to take precautions against heat exposure.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will open on June 11 in Mexico City and will be hosted across cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
