In short
- The Iran-linked hacking group Handala says it hacked FBI drones and obtained surveillance footage.
- The group threatened the teams participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- Investigators disputed some of the evidence they released from the robbers.
An Iran-linked hacking group that previously made headlines for allegedly hacking FBI Director Kash Patel’s email has threatened security at the 2026 FIFA World Cup – and has reportedly hacked FBI drones used around the stadium.
According to a report in CBS news On Friday, the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist organizations and cyber-threat activities, reported that Handala said it had obtained data collected by drones allegedly operated by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.
In a statement from the group, Handala gained access to “every image and every suspect” captured by the drones, which it said included facial recognition and license plate scanning technology. The group said that the video has been going back “for months”.
In addition to claiming that he has access to FBI drones, Handala also issued a threat to the teams participating in the game. World Cup competition.
“Better strengthen your World Cup defense, we don’t like some of those teams,” the team said. “(First-person drones) are everywhere; you never know when someone might walk into your team bus.”
The move comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran following the US-Israeli strike on Iran earlier this year. According to the US Department of Justice, Handala is linked to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security and is associated with data theft, wiper malware, and online persuasion campaigns that use leaked data, threats, and media attention to pressure and intimidate targets.
The issue of Handala’s threat comes as law enforcement agencies warn of this liars is targeting World Cup fans as the global soccer tournament continues in North America.
The claims have not been independently verified. SITE disputed some of Handala’s claims, saying that one of the videos presented as evidence of the breach was made in December 2024 by a software company that promotes technology used by the US police department to assess storm damage.
In March, the group said it hacked FBI Director Kash Patel’s email account and published photos and other content online. Recently, the group he said for violating California Water Service regulations, releasing nearly five gigabytes of allegedly stolen customer data by an internal company.
The announcement comes as the State Department’s Reward for Justice program continues $10 million for information about foreign government-led hackers engaged in cyberattacks against US military assets.
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