A Threat Looms Over the World Cup: Is What the United States Fears Possible? 

A potential threat to World Cup security has been identified by U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin.

Although he emphasized that matches taking place in the eleven host cities across the United States would be “extremely safe,” the American official expressed concern about possible attacks carried out by “lone wolves,” particularly in public spaces.

Speaking on the Fox & Friends program, Markwayne Mullin stated: “We feel as secure as we possibly can be. But we cannot control, as you know, the lone wolf.”

He added: “There is what we call the soft zone, which is the area before people enter the security perimeter. That area is a major concern for us.”

Mullin said that local and state law enforcement agencies would increase their deployment in those areas to ensure crowd safety. He nevertheless stressed that “the matches will be extremely safe.”

What Is a Lone Wolf?

A lone wolf is an individual who carries out a terrorist attack or violent act alone, without being directly part of a cell or organized network involved in planning and executing the operation.

Such an individual often adopts the ideology of an extremist group or becomes influenced by its propaganda through the internet or social media before independently deciding to carry out an attack.

In some cases, the attacker acts without any direct contact with the organization’s leadership, perhaps following only limited communication through encrypted applications, according to extremism expert Mounir Adib.

Adib added that the perpetrator may leave behind a message allowing a terrorist organization to claim responsibility for the attack.

Why Does It Represent a Threat?

• It is difficult for security services to detect because the individual typically maintains no extensive organizational communications.
• It requires little funding and no sophisticated logistical preparation.
• Simple means can be used, such as a vehicle, a knife, or a firearm.
• There are often few or no clear warning signs before the attack is carried out.

Mounir Adib explained: “In security studies, a lone wolf does not necessarily have to be completely disconnected from extremist organizations. The defining characteristic is that the attack is carried out individually and without direct participation from an organized cell, even if the perpetrator was inspired or incited through online content.”

He added that the World Cup is a major global event with enormous media attention, making it an attractive opportunity for extremist organizations seeking to conduct an attack with significant publicity and impact.

He continued: “Extremist organizations have become weaker, but lone wolves still exist in many countries. There also remain leaders and ideological narratives capable of influencing such individuals through encrypted messages or videos.”

According to Adib, “carrying out any attack, no matter how limited its impact, during an event such as the World Cup creates the impression that the organization remains capable of conducting terrorist activities.” He emphasized that lone wolves continue to provide extremist groups with an operational capability because of the lack of intelligence available to identify them and the inherent difficulty of monitoring them.