Ondas Featured in Forbes on the $365 Million Effort to Protect the 2026 World Cup from Drone Threats
As the United States hosts the largest FIFA World Cup in history, a new security challenge is drawing increased attention from government agencies, law enforcement, and defense technology providers: protecting crowded venues from hostile drones.
In a recent Forbes feature examining the $365 million investment being made to secure the 2026 World Cup, Ondas and its Sentrycs counter-drone technology were highlighted as part of the infrastructure helping safeguard stadiums, spectators, and critical event operations.
The article explores how lessons learned from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East are reshaping security planning for major public events, as autonomous and commercially available drones become increasingly capable and accessible.
What the Company Said
“If you’re in this industry, the biggest surprise is we haven’t had that 9/11 event. We have a massive country with massive vulnerabilities that we never had just 12 months ago.”
Ondas CEO Eric Brock underscored the urgency driving increased investment in counter-drone technology. As drone capabilities continue to evolve, organizations responsible for protecting public venues are being forced to rethink how they secure airspace around stadiums, airports, and other high-profile locations.
Brock also highlighted a longstanding challenge facing security operators:
“Up until now, if you are at an NFL stadium, you see a drone coming and it’s got a bomb, you can’t touch it by regulations. That’s unacceptable.”
Why It Matters
For years, drone security was often viewed as a future problem. Today, it has become an operational reality.
The same technologies that have transformed modern warfare are increasingly creating new challenges for public safety agencies, event organizers, and critical infrastructure operators. As governments and private organizations prepare for major events like the World Cup, the focus is shifting from simply detecting drones to identifying, tracking, and safely mitigating potential threats.
The World Cup represents one of the largest real-world tests of America’s counter-drone capabilities to date. Success will not only help protect millions of attendees during the tournament, but may also influence how future large-scale events, transportation hubs, and critical infrastructure sites are secured.
For Ondas, the feature highlights the growing importance of intelligent counter-drone systems that can address emerging threats without disrupting nearby communications, emergency response operations, or public safety networks.
Want to Learn More?
Read the full Forbes article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/sofiachierchio/2026/06/05/the-365-million-race-to-drone-proof-the-world-cup/
FAQs
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