A pro-Iranian hacking group known as Handala has claimed to have breached the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s drone systems used to monitor the FIFA World Cup matches held in the United States. The group alleges it gained access to live drone footage and other sensitive surveillance data as the FBI oversees security from the skies during the international tournament, which began on Friday.

Handala issued a statement expressing hostility toward certain teams participating in the World Cup, warning, “We don’t like these teams at all,” and indicated it had maintained access to the FBI’s drone operations for several months. The hackers assert they observed “every image and every suspect” recorded by the drones, suggesting a deep infiltration of the FBI’s aerial surveillance capabilities.

Security analysts tracking state-affiliated cyber activity reported the group’s communication, which included the warning to “better tighten your World Cup security,” further underscoring the potential threat environment surrounding the event. This latest claim follows previous declarations by Handala that it had penetrated water infrastructure systems in multiple California cities, raising concerns about the group’s evolving capabilities and targets.

In addition, Handala added former Pentagon official Kash Patel to its list of allegedly compromised individuals, asserting that FBI systems had been overwhelmed by their cyber operations despite being widely described as “impenetrable.” These assertions have heightened concerns over the security posture of U.S. law enforcement cyber defenses amid high-profile international events.

The FBI responded on Sunday, acknowledging awareness of Handala’s claims but categorically denying their veracity. The bureau maintained that the assertions were false and did not disclose further details about its drone operations or any ongoing investigations related to the alleged breach.

As the World Cup continues on U.S. soil, officials face mounting pressure to ensure the integrity of critical security systems against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. The developments underscore the challenges inherent in protecting large-scale public events from both physical and digital vulnerabilities.