With just three days to go until the World Cup kicks off, two violent incidents in host cities have got fans and officials on edge.

As reported by cbinews.tv, safety worries are mounting ahead of the 2026 World Cup after nine people were injured in two separate attacks in US host cities this weekend.

Six people were stabbed at New York’s Penn Station on Sunday, according to Mayor Zohran Mamdani. It happened just as the city is bracing for a massive week – the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden and the start of the World Cup. The Fire Department said one victim is seriously hurt, but all six are expected to survive. A suspect is in custody, and city Comptroller Mark Levine said on X that they’re “said to be an emotionally disturbed homeless person”.

Governor Kathy Hochul called it “an act of horrific violence”, adding, “New Yorkers deserve to feel safe wherever they go, and we will never stop working to make that a reality.”

The timing couldn’t be worse. MSG, which sits right above Penn Station, hosts games three and four of the NBA Finals on Monday and Wednesday. MetLife Stadium in New Jersey has its first World Cup match on Saturday. President Donald Trump’s even meant to be at Monday’s Knicks game.

Security was already tight, and now it’s been ramped up further. New York’s emergency alert system told people to avoid Penn Station, warning of “traffic delays, road closures, mass transit disruptions & emergency personnel”. An outdoor watch party for Monday’s game was already cancelled after Friday’s celebrations saw a police officer assaulted and 26 arrests.

Meanwhile, over in Kansas City, nine people suffered non-life-threatening injuries in a shooting on Saturday. It happened about 4 miles from the Swope Soccer Village, where England are due to train. The team hasn’t landed in Kansas City yet – they’ve got a friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando on Wednesday first. Police say no suspects are in custody.

The 48-team, 104-match World Cup is a huge security undertaking, especially for the US, which is hosting 78 matches across 11 cities. We’re talking federal agencies, local police, and private firms all working together. The kit list sounds like something out of a film: hunter drones that fire nets, robot dogs checking bags, giant X-ray trucks, and thousands of AI cameras watching public spaces.

Drones are banned over stadiums and fan zones. FBI Special Agent in Charge Amit Kachhia-Patel says they’ve got a “full suite of options” to deal with any that show up.

With the tournament just days away, all eyes are on whether the security plans can keep fans safe.

Source: cbinews.tv

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