When the World Cup lands in Texas, state troopers are planning to keep just as close an eye on the skies as on the streets.
Today, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced it had secured roughly $3.2 million in federal grant funding to buy advanced drone detection and mitigation systems ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The agency says the gear will be used to monitor restricted airspace and protect large crowds, critical infrastructure, and stadium perimeters in Dallas and Houston. DPS also plans to keep the capability in place for future large-scale events across Texas.
What the New Gear Can Actually Do
According to DPS, the package funded by FEMA will knit together several technologies into a single counter-drone network. The systems will use radio frequency monitoring, federally mandated Remote ID signals, fixed sensors, and mobile units to track unmanned aircraft in real time. Under authorized procedures, operators will be able to disrupt or even take control of unauthorized drones.
DPS says the setup is built for flexibility, supporting both stationary deployments around stadiums and mobile operations that move with motorcades or fan festivals. The goal is to give pilots and incident commanders layered visibility during matches and fan events. Texas Department of Public Safety provided the technical rundown.
“We will not hesitate to act against threats that put public safety at risk,” Col. Freeman F. Martin said in the announcement. The department’s chief pilot added that operators will be trained to comply with federal rules and registration requirements before using the systems. Texas Department of Public Safety released the statements.
Where the Money Is Coming From
The DPS funding is one slice of a much bigger federal push. FEMA moved quickly to award roughly $250 million in counter-drone grants to the 11 U.S. states hosting World Cup matches and the National Capital Region, targeting the temporary security footprint that will follow the tournament. FEMA outlined the program and its priorities in recent notices and guidance.
In Texas, that pot adds up to more than $30 million statewide, according to local reporting. About $3.2 million of that total is headed to DPS specifically for this detection and mitigation package, FOX 4 Dallas Fort Worth reported.
Safety Tradeoffs and Recent Hiccups
Experts and civil liberties advocates have warned that the same tools used for mitigation, including radio frequency jamming and kinetic interceptors, need tight oversight so they do not interfere with legitimate aircraft or lawful drone flights.
Those concerns are not theoretical. Earlier this year, the FAA temporarily shut down airspace over El Paso after anti drone laser activity triggered a safety review, a disruption first reported by the Associated Press. The Associated Press reporting highlights how complicated coordination between federal and local agencies can get once new counter drone tools are in play.
Legal Authority and Training
Congress recently updated the legal playbook governing these operations. The Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act includes provisions that expand detection powers and limited mitigation authority for certain state and local entities, while also setting training and reporting standards for counter UAS operations. Congress.gov has the bill text and related actions.
DPS says its personnel will complete specialized counter UAS training run by the FBI before they deploy the new systems at high profile events.
What Fans and Hobby Pilots Need to Know
For fans headed to matches, the rules are simple, even if the tech behind them is not. Stadiums and nearby fan zones are expected to be strict no drone zones, and pilots will have to respect Temporary Flight Restrictions issued for the tournament. The FAA has posted guidance on flight restrictions and enforcement ahead of the World Cup.
For now, state and federal officials are pitching the new systems as one more layer of security in a crowded threat environment, and one more tool in Texas’ toolbox when millions of visitors pack local streets and stadiums this summer.
