ISIS has issued a sickening threat to football fans, urging its supporters to set stadiums on fire and cause stampedes as people from across the globe travel to North America for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
ISIS Message to Supporters
Supporters of the group were told: 'O mujahid, have a full month to monitor gatherings and launch attacks, for the unbridled hordes of infidels throng the streets and stands teem with them.' Followers were then urged to imagine the chaos an attack could cause inside a packed stadium.
'Imagine that you have succeeded in starting a fire in the stands to cause a massive stampede that will kill hundreds of people from the nation of the Trinity and atheism? It is an idea worth implementing,' the message continued, as reported by The Sun.
Condemnation of the World Cup
ISIS demanded the destruction of civilisation due to the sins it claims the World Cup is promoting, including 'beastiality and depravity.' The group branded players the offspring of 'Crusaders' intent on destroying Islam, likened them to livestock, and claimed sport has 'led them astray.'
The terror group even called for the death of the players, according to the Daily Express. 'The victory lies with those who seize this opportunity, within the well-known legal parameters of Islamic jurisprudence, to admiring and becoming attached to the 'player,' and engaging in jihad by intensifying campaigns to cripple America and wound the hearts of its citizens,' the message read.
Security Measures Across Host Cities
The tournament, shared between hosts Mexico, Canada, and the US, is on track to be the most watched World Cup in history. Serious security concerns have gripped host cities, with authorities bolstering defences against drone threats and tightening security measures across metropolitan areas.
In Guadalajara, Mexico, heavily armed police officers and National Guard personnel have been deployed to patrol the streets. In the US, federal agencies, state and local police forces, and private organisations are working round the clock to keep cities safe. Some are assigned to securing stadiums and fan zones, while others escort teams and safeguard dignitaries.
Advanced Security Technology
Security teams possess hunter drones capable of firing nets over objects in prohibited airspace, bag-scanning robot dogs, enormous X-ray lorries, and thousands of AI-powered cameras monitoring public areas where supporters are expected to congregate.
