Podcasts · The Crime Agents

The World Cup’s dark side: hooligans, ICE & terror threats

· 35 min · Episode 56 · Explicit

Episode The World Cup’s dark side: hooligans, ICE & terror threats

0:00 34:35

The 2026 World Cup will be the biggest football tournament in history, but it could also be the most dangerous.

Andy reveals the shockingly small number of British police officers travelling to the US for the tournament, and explains why that makes hooliganism and crowd trouble at England and Scotland matches far more likely. What happens when rowdy English football fans meet armed, heavy-handed American cops?

Later, Neil breaks down the terror threat: why ISIS and other groups may see the World Cup as a target, and what he learned preparing London for the 2012 Olympics as a senior Met Police officer. Plus: could Trump's ICE agents pose a threat to Latin American and Middle Eastern fans attending the tournament?

And back in Britain, how is law enforcement preparing for a summer of international football? From the predictable spike in domestic violence, to the challenge of policing fan zones across major cities, Andy & Neil give you the inside track on everything you need to know.

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