World Cup 2026 security reports reveal threats to Messi

The 2026 World Cup ended with Spain lifting the trophy, but newly surfaced security reports have cast a harsh light on the darker side of the tournament. Documents from the International Police Cooperation Center (IPPC), cited by Catalan outlet Sport, detail a wide range of threats, harassment cases and security incidents involving some of the biggest names in football.

Messi and Ronaldo among the main targets

According to the reports, Lionel Messi was the player most frequently threatened during the competition, while Cristiano Ronaldo was subjected to the most sustained harassment. The material underlines how heavily security services were forced to monitor risks around star players throughout the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

One of the most alarming incidents came before Argentina's match against Jordan, when a man reportedly called Dallas airport and said he was heading to the stadium with a homemade bomb and an AR-15, targeting police officers and players from both teams.

Before Argentina's earlier game against Egypt, authorities also examined a post on X in which a user threatened to enter the stadium in Atlanta and blow up Messi with bombs attached to his body.

Harassment cases extended beyond the pitch

Ronaldo's case was described as especially serious in terms of stalking and harassment. A FIFA employee reported a suspicious man who had been asking for details about the Portugal forward's accommodation. Police in Houston later identified and detained that individual at the hotel where Ronaldo was staying with the national team. A separate man was also detained in Toronto in a similar incident.

The reports suggest these were not isolated episodes. Death threats were also recorded against other tournament figures, including Norway's Alexander Sorloth, Colombia's Jaminton Campaz and France's Lucas Digne. After France's match against Paraguay, security services also logged the burning of an effigy of Kylian Mbappe.

South Korea and officials also required protection

The documents also point to the pressure faced by entire delegations. South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo and his squad, after their exit in the opening phase of the World Cup, were escorted to the airport by a strong police presence following death threats aimed at the whole team.

Yet the most extreme case in the reports concerns referee Francois Letexier after Argentina's match against Egypt. IPPC records state that he received thousands of threatening messages on his private WhatsApp number, with most said to have come from Egyptian citizens. His fellow French official and VAR assistant from the same match, Willy Delajod, was also subjected to death threats.

The situation escalated to the point that police protection was reportedly put in place for the homes and families of both referees in France after their addresses were shared on social media.

A tournament overshadowed by a security warning

The World Cup is meant to be football's biggest celebration, but these reports show how much of the event was accompanied by serious security concerns behind the scenes. Far from being limited to online abuse, the incidents described by the IPPC ranged from direct threats and stalking to cases requiring detentions and police protection.

For organisers and authorities, the findings are likely to raise difficult questions about player safety, the protection of officials and the growing challenge of managing threats around elite sport on a global stage.