Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Sunday declared the United States fully prepared to host the FIFA World Cup 2026, describing the scale of the tournament as the equivalent of '78 Super Bowls in 38 days' — a logistical and security undertaking unlike anything the country has previously managed. Speaking on CNN's State of the Union, Mullin said federal agencies were confident in their security posture across all host cities.

Scale of the Challenge

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) expects between five and seven million visitors to travel across North America during the tournament. The expanded FIFA World Cup spans 11 host cities within the United States, with matches spread across 38 days — a concentration of high-profile events that Mullin said demands treating each venue as a major national security operation.

'We have, keep in mind, 78 Super Bowls in 38 days throughout the United States and 11 different host cities,' Mullin said. 'Each one of those had to be treated like a Super Bowl. Each one of those will have a bigger audience than the Super Bowl.'

What the DHS Secretary Said on Safety

Mullin was direct when asked whether the country was ready. 'Are we safe? Yes, we're going to have a safe and one of the best World Cups in the history of this event,' he said. He noted there are no specific known threats, but cautioned that the sheer volume of visitors creates an inherent security environment that cannot be ignored. 'There's not specific threats. There's a threat because of the amount of people coming in,' he added.

Security planning covers not just stadiums but also team base camps, transportation networks, and public gathering areas. The DHS holds lead responsibility for coordination, working alongside local law enforcement and international partners.

Funding Delays and Political Friction

Mullin acknowledged that preparations were complicated by funding disruptions earlier in the year. He attributed delays in reimbursements to local law enforcement partners to what he described as Democrats defunding key agencies — ICE and CBP for 115 days and DHS for 76 days. 'The truth is, though, with the Democrats defunding ICE and CBP for 115 days and DHS for 76 days, it made it tough,' Mullin said.

He said memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with local agencies were affected, with reimbursements falling behind schedule. 'We can't do this without our local partnerships,' he stressed, while maintaining that all agencies are now fully prepared.

India and Global Diaspora in Focus

The tournament is expected to draw supporters from across the world, including thousands from India and the broader South Asian diaspora in North America. US authorities have emphasised that international intelligence sharing is central to the overall security framework for the event. Mullin expressed confidence that the combined federal, state, local, and international effort would deliver a safe and successful tournament. 'We feel very confident on our posture in each one of these places,' he said.