The man who oversaw security for both the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics is warning that next month’s World Cup could become a prime target for Iranian sleeper cells and international terror networks as tensions in the Middle East continue escalating.
Former LAPD Deputy Chief Bill Rathburn, a veteran security official with decades of experience protecting massive international events, told The New York Post he believes the threat environment surrounding the upcoming tournament is extremely serious.
“I’m fairly confident there are Iranian sleeper cells or surrogate sleeper cells, and this would be an incredible opportunity for sleeper cells to attack,” Rathburn said.
His warning comes as federal agencies remain on heightened alert following the recent military confrontation between the United States and Iran. The conflict intensified after Iranian-linked attacks on U.S. naval assets prompted retaliatory American strikes on Iranian targets. President Trump later referred to the exchange as a “love tap,” though intelligence agencies reportedly remain deeply concerned about potential retaliatory operations inside the United States.
Former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker, who coordinated security for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics shortly after the September 11 attacks, also warned that the World Cup presents an unusually attractive target for extremist groups.
“There’s an animation around the sport to begin with,” Swecker said. “You’ve got the presence of foes coming to the World Cup from different parts of the world. It’s not like it can escape the radar of terrorist organizations. It’s right there front and center.”
Swecker said the danger extends beyond formal terrorist organizations and includes lone actors radicalized online.
“Iranian sleeper cells would be at the top of the list,” he said, while also naming Hezbollah, Hamas, Al Qaeda, ISIS, and independent extremists inspired by global conflicts.
“And then there’s nut cases that sort of loosely align themselves with one or more of these terrorist organizations,” Swecker added. “All they need to do is add water and they’re activated.”
Security experts say the concern is not limited to the stadiums themselves. Fan festivals, transit systems, hotels, crowded public gathering areas, and transportation hubs are all viewed as vulnerable “soft targets” during large-scale international events.
“You have to have the best intelligence that you could put in place,” Rathburn stressed.
The scale of the World Cup creates enormous logistical challenges for law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The tournament will stretch across 39 days and involve 48 national teams competing in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The U.S. alone will host 78 matches across 11 cities, including the championship final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.
The first U.S. match is scheduled for June 12 in Los Angeles against Panama.
Federal agencies are already pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into security preparations.
