FBI reveals details of threats to Messi during the World Cup in the US
Police reports reveal the scale of security threats during the World Cup. Messi, Ronaldo, and referees were targeted, and an incident also occurred during Croatia's match.
Police reports reveal the scale of security threats during the World Cup. Messi, Ronaldo, and referees were targeted, and an incident also occurred during Croatia's match.
Sniper teams, bomb disposal units, counter-terrorism squads, and bulletproof glass shielding the VIP box with US President Donald Trump were just some of the measures in place during the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. While such measures may have seemed excessive to some, police reports uncovered by the Spanish outlet Informacion show that US authorities were well aware of what they were up against.
Throughout the tournament, the FBI coordinated the work of the International Police Cooperation Center (IPCC), which brought together US federal agencies and police forces from participating countries. Their task was to monitor terrorist tips, threats to players, and any incidents that could jeopardize the competition.
Argentine captain Lionel Messi received the most threats before and during the tournament. The most serious tip came via a call to Dallas airport, where an unknown individual stated that they, along with two others, were heading to the stadium where Argentina's match against Jordan was being played. According to the police report, the caller said they were armed with "homemade bombs and an AR-15" and planned to attack "police officers and players from both teams," specifically mentioning Lionel Messi.
An even more chilling threat came during the round of 16 match against Egypt, which Argentina won 3-2. A post appeared on social media platform X: "I'm about to enter the Atlanta stadium and blow up Messi with four bombs strapped to my body." At the same time, another man called the police claiming he had left "three bombs" in trash cans at the stadium, prompting a search by explosives experts with sniffer dogs.
Cristiano Ronaldo also faced unsettling situations. A FIFA employee reported a "suspicious man" seeking "details" about the Portuguese star's accommodation. Police in Houston arrested a man on June 16 at the hotel where Ronaldo was staying with the national team. A similar incident occurred in Toronto, where a fan tried to enter the elevator with the Portuguese player, claiming he just wanted a photo.
Of particular interest to the Croatian public is an incident in Miami, where during the match between Portugal and Croatia, a man wearing a Ronaldo jersey jumped onto the pitch and attempted to approach the Portuguese captain.
However, the most dramatic case was suffered by French referee François Letexier, who officiated the controversial match between Argentina and Egypt. According to IPCC reports, Letexier received "six thousand threatening messages" on his private WhatsApp, mostly from "Egyptian nationals." The anger also spilled over to VAR assistant Willy Delajod, who also received death threats.
The situation escalated to the point that the homes and families of both referees in France required enhanced security and police escorts after their addresses were published on social media.
