Sports fans preparing to travel for the FIFA World Cup 2026 might run into some significant delays.
Dallas and the North Texas area are preparing for a large rush of airline passengers and travelers for the upcoming World Cup just three weeks away, but are already running into problems with short staffing at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). After the recent government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Homeland Security said that close to 1,100 TSA agents across the US left the agency.
In one of the TSA’s recent social media posts, they wrote that “…this loss has SIGNIFICANTLY decreased TSA’s ability to meet passenger demand and left critical gaps…”. With this significant staff lose in mind, many travelers wonder if they should expect longer lines or potential security risks on their flights while traveling for the World Cup throughout this summer.
Since the World Cup begins in just three short weeks, there is little to no ability for the DHS to add staff to the TSA. According to the TSA, it takes them about four months to hire and properly train a new staff member. This means that not only will the TSA be short staffed throughout the length of the World Cup, but for a significant time afterwards.
In a recent video posted on X, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said that even with less staff, TSA expects to process millions of travelers during the World Cup. “There’s going to be 5-7 million visitors traveling across 11 cities…” Mullin said. Preparations also are being put in place to handle the increased demand of US airlines. “We’ve got a whole team set up that’s going to be taking care of all these passengers. Hopefully, we can move them fast and move them secure. And make sure the World Cup is a great experience for everybody.”
In a time where many US travelers have already come to expect delays as the new normal, scheduling enough time for delays or flight cancellations in their World Cup plans is something that many have already accounted for in their flight schedules. American Airlines, the Official North American Airline Supplier of FIFA World Cup 2026, is providing premium passengers with themed amenity kits that may help to quell the frustrations of some. But only time will tell how prepared TSA will be for the 5-7 million World Cup Travelers throughout this summer.
While TSA is preparing for the influx of passengers that the FIFA World Cup 2026 will bring, travelers should still plan for possible TSA delays or flight cancellations.
