Two separate violent incidents in U.S. World Cup host cities left nine people injured on Sunday, raising fresh concerns over safety and security for fans ahead of the tournament, which begins in three days.
On Sunday morning, six people were stabbed at Penn Station in New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced. The attack occurred as the metropolitan area prepares to host two major sporting events: the NBA Finals and the FIFA World Cup. The New York Fire Department said the suspect was taken into custody and the victims—including one with serious injuries—were taken to hospitals. Mayor Mamdani confirmed on X: “Based on available information, six people have been stabbed, and the suspected perpetrator has been arrested.”
No further details were immediately released about the assault, but City Comptroller Mark Levine said the suspect was believed to be “a homeless person with emotional disorders.” All victims are expected to survive, he added. Governor Kathy Hochul described the attack as a “horrific act of violence.”
The stabbing happened at one of America’s busiest rail and subway hubs as the city gears up for two major sports events. Madison Square Garden, directly above Penn Station in midtown Manhattan, will host Games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals. MetLife Stadium in nearby New Jersey is scheduled to host its first World Cup match next Saturday.
On Saturday, nine people suffered non-life-threatening injuries in a shooting near the England national team’s training base in Kansas City, Missouri. Kansas City police said no arrests have been made, and at least three victims were taken to a local hospital. The incident occurred about 4 miles (6.5 km) from England’s training facility at Swope Soccer Village. The England team has not yet arrived in Kansas City; they are scheduled to play a friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday.
Before the stabbing, New York officials canceled a planned outdoor watch party scheduled for Monday outside Madison Square Garden. On Friday, thousands of fans had spilled onto streets outside the venue for a Game 2 watch party of the NBA Finals. Authorities said a police officer was assaulted and 26 people were arrested as some fans became unruly.
The 48-team, 104-match World Cup 2026 poses an unprecedented security challenge for host nations, especially the United States, which will stage 78 matches across 11 cities. Overseeing this vast security apparatus is an array of federal agencies, state and local police departments, and private organizations. Their responsibilities range from protecting stadiums and fan zones to escorting teams and safeguarding dignitaries.
Tools include drones that fire nets to intercept objects in restricted airspace, robot dogs for bag inspection, giant X-ray trucks, and thousands of AI-powered cameras trained on public spaces. Drones are banned over stadiums and fan zones. On match days, the FBI will activate joint operations centers in each host city, bringing together local, state, and federal law enforcement to monitor and investigate threats.
The tournament carries the same high-level federal security classification as the Super Bowl, second only to a presidential inauguration or national political convention. According to Andrew Giuliani, executive director of President Donald Trump’s World Cup task force, there is currently no credible threat. The Department of Homeland Security estimates up to seven million people will travel to the U.S. for the World Cup.
