Dallas is preparing to host the 2026 World Cup with a $51.5 million FEMA grant for enhanced security, including personnel, equipment, and drone technology.
DALLAS — Dallas police provided an update Wednesday on how the department is preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is set to begin in mid-June.
North Texas is set to host nine World Cup matches, more than any other World Cup venue.
Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux said the city received a $51.5 million grant from FEMA for security efforts surrounding the World Cup – $22 million of which will support personnel costs, including salaries and overtime for officers assigned to critical operations. DPD did not share specific staffing numbers around the World Cup, citing it as a “public safety aspect,” but ensured that they would have enough officers deployed to keep people safe.
Comeaux also said DPD received additional funding: $1.3 million for equipment and $10 million for drone mitigation technology.
The breakdown of purchases DPD has made using the $1.3 million grant includes:
$880,000 for additional cameras$258,000 for portable anti-ramming barricades$67,000 for 2 Polaris Ranger vehicles$72,000 for police vehicles for use during the tournament
Comeaux said some of the additional cameras being added to their network are permanent, while some will be mobile. The portable anti-ramming barricades will be deployed in high foot traffic areas, like Deep Ellum, for example.
Watch the full security briefing here:
Dallas police are also sending a team to Mexico for the FIFA Intercontinental playoff, which has matches on March 26 and March 31, to monitor security operations and protocols. DPD did something similar in 2022 and attended the Qatar World Cup, Comeaux said.
Addressing the grant funding for drones, Comeaux said DPD was looking at utilizing drones not only for the World Cup, but beyond that.
“We want drones as a part of what we do at the Dallas Police Department,” Comeaux said.
When asked about DPD’s involvement with ICE for the World Cup, Comeaux said “We will work with all our federal partners, but our main thing is just to keep everyone safe.” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director Todd Lyons told a panel in the House of Representatives in February that ICE agents would play a “key part” in security efforts, according to Sports Illustrated.
Comeaux rejected an October 2025 offer of $25 million for inclusion in the 287(g) Program, also known as the Warrant Service Officer Model Program. It is a partnership between ICE and local law enforcement agencies that allows certain trained local officers to perform some immigration enforcement duties, like checking a person’s immigration status after an arrest and starting the process for possible deportation.
And during a Community Police Oversight Board meeting in January, Comeaux declined to disclose how often his officers encounter U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on city streets. He said releasing the information could put officers at risk amid heightened tension in communities across the country. This meeting happened on the heels of the fatal shooting of Renee Good, which happened on Jan. 7. Alex Pretti was fatally shot by ICE about a week-and-a-half after Comeaux’s comments at the meeting.
When the White House Task Force came to Dallas in January, executive director Dr. Andrew Giuliani declined to give insight into the security footprint.
“We are excited to welcome the world to Dallas for this historic international event,” Comeaux said Wednesday morning. “This moment is not just for our city, but for our entire region to showcase who we are.”
The World Cup kicks off on June 11 in Mexico. North Texas’ first match comes on June 14, when the Netherlands takes on Japan.