Trump imposes biggest security plan in history at World Cup final with no-fly zone, F-16 fighter jets
US President Donald Trump's expected attendance at the World Cup final on Sunday evening, July 19, has put F-16 fighter jets on high military alert and deployed teams of military snipers in the largest security operation accompanying a sporting event in US history.
Official sources revealed that a strict and strict air ban was imposed around the site of the final match between Spain and Argentina, with snipers stationed on the roofs of the MetLife stadium, while thousands of FBI agents were tasked with supporting the unprecedented security plan, which aims to secure the final scene of the World Cup and protect the podium.
Exceptional Level I Procedures and Interception of a Civil Aircraft
The White House confirmed that fans will face significant delays in reaching the stands as a result of the strict measures, calling on fans to attend a full four hours before kick-off, as the World Cup final is currently classified as a "Level 1" special event, the highest security rating in place in the US systems for securing major events.
The North American Air Defense Command announced that U.S. F-16 fighter jets had already intercepted a small civilian jet that violated temporary airspace restrictions ahead of the final, firing flares to attract the pilot's attention, before escorting the plane safely out of the Federal Aviation Administration's restricted airspace in the New York and New Jersey areas.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House World Cup task force, said the event is on par with the president's annual State of the Union address and presidents' inauguration ceremonies in terms of security measures, stressing that the process completely surpasses the Super Bowl and sees the participation of the New Jersey State Police and several federal agencies.
Huge federal budget and drone seizure
Giuliani revealed that the incident of the gunman who breached security during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner last April was a reminder of the magnitude of the threats, stressing that this breach was one of the main reasons for the president's approval of a $625 million federal grant package to secure the tournament, whose previous games had gone without security incidents.
White House spokeswoman Carolyn Levitt told US media that President Trump's presence will conclude what she described as the most watched and successful edition of the World Cup in history, with Trump participating in handing over the trophy to the winning team alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The FBI said it had seized hundreds of drones that flew within restricted areas near stadiums throughout the tournament, while two years of coordination between federal agents, local law enforcement and private security firms to develop plans to protect facilities and official delegations.
Crowd delays and recurrence of lockdown scenes in New York
Sources on the ground confirmed that the tight security measures taken by the Secret Service are causing most of the delays that fans face when entering the sports complex, due to the strict inspections imposed at the external gates and the stadium's biosphere.
Media reports have suggested that Trump's participation in major sporting events has long disrupted the movement of fans, as his attendance at one of the NBA Finals games last June in New York led to the complete closure of several major streets by police.
The flight restrictions, which began on Friday and will continue through the end of Sunday, have caused a state of public alert in the civil and commercial aviation sectors in the surrounding areas of New York and New Jersey to ensure that the skies are completely clear as the movements of presidential helicopters and international delegations participating in the final.