The UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) will deploy only three officers to this summer’s World Cup in the United States, following a failure to secure extra funding from US authorities. With up to 15,000 England fans expected at each group match, the unit said its role would be limited to acting as “cultural interpreters” for local law enforcement.
Chief Constable Mark Roberts, head of the UKFPU, explained that the number of officers sent is usually based on host requests, but US states are not funding mobile delegations this time. He noted that a 10% cut in Home Office funding prevented the unit from financing more officers themselves. “This isn’t a criticism, it’s a statement of fact,” Roberts said.
The three officers will be led by Superintendent Gareth Parkin, supported by two football officers. Roberts stressed that this is a significant reduction compared to previous tournaments, but said there are no concerns over fan safety. The UKFPU has given online presentations to all 16 host cities on engaging with supporters.
England’s group-stage matches will take place in Dallas, Boston, and East Rutherford, New Jersey. Roberts said the unit has worked to reassure US authorities that English fans behave well, while also reminding supporters that behaviours acceptable in the UK may not be elsewhere. “We are not anticipating problems,” he added.
In contrast, Police Scotland will send officers to the US thanks to Scottish government funding, focusing on the Boston area where Scotland’s opening fixtures are scheduled. The UKFPU sent 40 officers to Euro 2024 in Germany after government-backed funding, a similar arrangement to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The UKFPU has been working with the Football Supporters’ Association to deliver safety messages. Around 3,500 tickets have been sold to England fans for each group match, with an additional 10,000-11,000 ticket holders through the Fifa portal. The Foreign Office has advised travellers to monitor travel advice and take out insurance.
