US police make 1,300 arrests and seize 280 guns ahead of England's World Cup opener in Dallas

US law enforcement agencies have made more than 1,300 arrests and seized 280 illegal firearms as part of a sweeping pre-tournament security operation in the Dallas area, where England face Croatia on June 18 in their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup fixture.

The operation, named Operation Red Card, also netted 800 kilos of methamphetamine, 50 kilos of cocaine, 20 kilos of fentanyl, and approximately £4 million in cash. Northern District of Texas US Attorney Ryan Raybould described those detained as “some of the worst of the worst” and called the effort “an extraordinary success.”

“This operation has been about preparing for the FIFA World Cup and cleaning up our streets,” Raybould said. “We’re ready to protect and serve, and there is no one who will work harder to put you behind bars than this group up here.” He added a pointed warning to would-be offenders: “Come to North Texas and commit a crime if you dare.”

Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux credited the coordination between local and federal agencies. “Right here, this is what right looks like — us, working together to keep everyone safe in Dallas,” he said. Comeaux confirmed that the 1,300-plus arrests were tied to fugitive operations run through the US Marshals Task Force, all involving individuals with outstanding felony warrants.

Up to 15,000 England supporters are expected to travel to the Dallas area for the Croatia match. The AT&T Stadium in Arlington is scheduled to host nine World Cup games in total — more than any other venue in the tournament.

US Attorney Jake Holmes of the Eastern District of Texas also addressed the overlap between drug trafficking and immigration enforcement during the operation, saying intelligence had revealed networks inside the United States maintaining supply lines connected to overseas contacts.

Raybould sought to reassure visiting fans that the security posture would not come at the expense of hospitality, noting that officers involved in the crackdown also conduct community outreach and reentry programmes. “They are vigorously enforcing the law but they’re also great men and women that are representatives of the institution that they represent,” he said.