The Dallas FBI has already been working for months preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, an event that is still two years away.
“We definitely have a lot of experience in Dallas when it comes to special events, but this is definitely something we’ve never dealt with before,” said Chad Yarbrough, FBI special agent in Dallas.
They were part of a group of more than 100 people from public and private law enforcement agencies, Yarbrough said.
The FBI Dallas Critical Incident Response Team (DCIRT) conducts training exercises with local and state agencies, such as one held in October in the city of Prosper.
Yarbrough gave NBC 5 a look at the action taking place around AT&T Stadium in Arlington for FIFA.
His team stationed three vehicles at the FBI’s Dallas headquarters, with a mobile command truck in the middle where all communications would take place.
“With this vehicle, we can communicate securely all over the world, I mean, all the way up to a secret level,” he explained.
An evidence response truck was parked next door, with a team waiting to process the crime scene if necessary.
“This is what we call a Bearcat. This is our armored personnel carrier,” Yarbrough said, pointing to the last truck.
He said the Dallas FBI has several trucks that could carry five to 10 law enforcement officers, including negotiators.
“Additional armored vehicles are being deployed in both Houston and San Antonio,” he said.
Yarbrough said other FBI agencies also plan to send trucks and personnel to step up security for the World Cup, but are still discussing how many to send.
In addition to sharing equipment and personnel, the FBI will also be sharing intelligence.
Dallas’ units, including the cybersecurity and counterterrorism teams, work together here, both with each other and with units across the country and around the world.
“Whether it’s cyber threats, violent threats or counterterrorism threats, we work with all of the units and programs within the FBI in Dallas, as well as with our state and local partners, to keep the game safe,” Yarbrough said.
Yarbrough said there are also ways people can help keep themselves safe during big events.
He said to always be aware of your exits so that if something were to happen you would know exactly where to go to get out of the environment.
He also said the adage still stands: “Whenever you see something suspicious, say something and call the police.”
