The following reported threats and security incidents are drawn from reporting by The Sun and Información.es, which cite leaked police/IPCC (International Police Cooperation Center) documents covering security incidents during the FIFA World Cup 2026. Muir Analytics has not independently verified these reports.1, 2
- Dallas, Texas – Argentina vs. Jordan: The Sun and Información.es report that a caller allegedly threatened to attack the stadium using homemade bombs and an AR-15-style rifle, specifically threatening police officers, both teams, and making a specific threat against Lionel Messi.1, 2
- Atlanta, Georgia – Argentina vs. Egypt: The two publications report that an individual posted on X claiming he would enter the stadium wearing four suicide bombs specifically to kill **Lionel Messi.1, 2
- Atlanta, Georgia – Argentina vs. Egypt: During the same match, another caller reportedly claimed three bombs had been placed inside stadium trash cans, prompting searches by bomb technicians and K-9 teams.1, 2
- Houston, Texas – Portugal Team Hotel: The Sun and Información.es report that a suspicious man allegedly sought information regarding Cristiano Ronaldo’s hotel (InterContinental Houston, an IHG property) before later being arrested near the Portuguese team’s hotel.1, 2
- Toronto, Canada – Portugal Team Hotel: According to both reports, another individual allegedly entered Ronaldo’s hotel (Delta Hotel in downtown Toronto, a Marriott property) and attempted to board an elevator with the player before being detained by police – the individual reportedly claimed he wanted a selfie.1, 2
- Miami, Florida: Información.es reports that another individual allegedly attempted to gain access to Cristiano Ronaldo during the tournament.2
- Portugal vs. Croatia Match: According to Información.es, a fan reportedly wearing a Cristiano Ronaldo jersey invaded the field in an attempt to reach the player.2
- England National Team Media Center (Kansas): The Sun reports that a man carrying a wrench entered the England media center, shouting before security intervened.1
- England Team Base – Prairie Village, Kansas: The Sun reports England’s hotel operated as a “virtual fortress,” protected by concrete barriers, sniper screening measures, a no-fly zone against drone threats, a command center opposite The Inn at Meadowbrook Hotel, and extensive armed security patrols.1
- South Korean National Team: Información.es reports the team required large-scale police protection and airport escort following reported death threats after its World Cup elimination.2
- Referee François Letexier: Both publications report the French referee allegedly received approximately 6,000 threatening WhatsApp messages following the Argentina-Egypt match.1, 2
- VAR Official Willy Delajod: The reports state the assistant referee allegedly received death threats, with police reportedly increasing security around his family residence in France.1, 2
- Norway Striker Alexander Sørloth: The Sun and Información.es report that the player and his wife allegedly received death threats following a missed scoring opportunity.1, 2
- Colombia’s Jaminton Campaz: According to both reports, Campaz allegedly received threats after missing a penalty, and was reportedly unable to return home with the remainder of the Colombian squad because of security concerns.1, 2
- France’s Kylian Mbappé: The Sun and Información.es report that Mbappé was subjected to racist and xenophobic abuse, while images circulated online allegedly showing supporters burning an effigy bearing his likeness following France’s match with Paraguay.1, 2
Takeaways
There are six takeaways. First, these reports likely represent only a portion of the threats managed during the FIFA World Cup. Nevertheless, the reporting by The Sun and Información.es demonstrates that:
- Threats against the tournament were real.
- The volume and frequency of reported threats required continuous vigilance by government and private security.
- Multiple venue types – including hotels and stadiums – were reportedly targeted.
- Both mass-casualty attacks and targeted threats against individual players and officials were reported.
Second, the incidents described in the leaked police reports provide additional insight into the threat environment:
- Eight reported incidents required immediate security responses.
- Three involved alleged terrorist-style mass-casualty threats, including reported bombing and firearm attack threats.
- Several incidents targeted individual players, referees, and FIFA personnel, requiring enhanced executive protection measures.
- Four reported cases involved security personnel intervening to stop individuals attempting to approach or access protected persons.
- Five reported incidents involved football stadiums, while two reportedly involved team hotels.
Third, several hotel-related incidents involved precursor activity – including attempts to obtain accommodation information and unauthorized efforts to access protected guests – demonstrating the importance of intelligence sharing, access control, executive protection, and early intervention before violence occurs.
Fourth, the extensive security measures reported at England’s team hotel – including hardened perimeter security, anti-drone measures, concrete barriers, and layered protection – underscore both the seriousness of the threat environment and the level of planning required to secure team accommodations during major international sporting events.
Fifth, based on reporting available to date, government security forces, private executive protection teams, and hotel security personnel appear to have successfully prevented the reported threats described in these articles from resulting in physical harm to FIFA players, officials, and protected guests. The incidents also highlight the important role played by hotel operators – including IHG and Marriott properties identified in these reports – in supporting protective security operations.
Finally, the reporting available so far suggests FIFA World Cup 2026 benefited from robust, layered security by government agencies, private security providers, and hotel personnel who understood the threat environment and implemented appropriate protective measures. Hotel security managers planning for future international sporting events can use these reported incidents as practical examples demonstrating that such threats are real, that enhanced security measures are justified, and that constant vigilance remains essential.
Muir Analytics will continue monitoring FIFA World Cup 2026 reporting for additional hotel security lessons learned. As further information becomes available – including both security successes and security failures – we will continue providing timely analysis to assist hotel security professionals, risk managers, insurers, and other stakeholders.
Muir Analytics runs the world’s largest, most sophisticated hotel violence database – the SecureHotel Threat Portal – with over 3,500 hotel attacks (and growing). We can provide the hospitality, insurance, and law enforcement/government sectors with intelligence that supports full-spectrum risk management, which helps hotels protect guests, staff, buildings, brands, and revenues. Contact us for a consultation: 1-833-DATA-444.
Sources and further reading
1 “Messi suicide bomb, Ronaldo hotel alert & ref’s 6,000 texts… scale of World Cup threats revealed in leaked police dossier,” The Sun, 7 August 2026, https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/39994567/messi-ronaldo-hotel-bomb-threat-world-cup-dossier/.
2 “Los diarios policiales del Mundial: ‘Voy a entrar en el estadio y volar a Messi con cuatro bombas pegadas al cuerpo’,” Información.es, 7 August 2026, https://www.informacion.es/sucesos/2026/08/07/mundial-futbol-amenazas-messi-informes-133160681.html.
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