Terror Amid the Crowds: A Long History of Attacks at Major US Events

The 2026 World Cup is currently underway, and for the first time, the world’s biggest football celebration is being held across three countries simultaneously: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. For the US, host nation status is a source of immense pride. However, behind the tournament’s fanfare lies significant attention on security conditions. The World Cup presents not only matches inside stadiums but also massive crowds outside venues, on public transport, in hotels, restaurants, and at supporter gathering points.

These concerns are not unfounded. The US has a long record of violent attacks in public spaces. The threat in the country comes not only from foreign terrorist groups but also from domestic sources, including ideological extremists, lone actors, and mass shootings. It is important to note, however, that not all mass shootings are automatically categorised as terrorism. In this context, the focus is on attacks or planned attacks targeting large crowds, including sporting events and public festivals, motivated by ideology, hatred, or a desire to create widespread fear.

History shows that sporting events and large public gatherings in the US have indeed been targeted. Some attacks were successfully carried out, while other plots were foiled before causing casualties.

One of the most famous cases occurred at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Eric Rudolph detonated a pipe bomb hidden in a backpack at Centennial Olympic Park, killing one person and injuring over 100. The attack took place as crowds gathered to enjoy the Olympic atmosphere. Rudolph, known as an anti-abortion extremist, demonstrated how a major sporting event could be used as a stage by a violent actor to advance an ideological agenda.

Another case was the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Two brothers, Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, detonated two homemade bombs near the marathon’s finish line, killing three people and injuring hundreds. The Boston Marathon is one of the most famous annual sporting events in the US, and the attack deeply shook the American and global public. This case also highlighted the risk posed by self-radicalised perpetrators, who were reportedly inspired by extremist propaganda rather than receiving direct orders from a foreign organisation.

In 2019, an attack occurred at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in California. While not a sporting event, the festival shared similar characteristics with other major events: crowded, open, and filled with visitors of all ages. The perpetrator, Santino Legan, opened fire on festival-goers with a semi-automatic weapon, killing three people before being shot by police. The case drew security attention because the perpetrator had allegedly posted white supremacist content online prior to the attack, showing that dense public spaces can be soft targets for extreme violence.

In 2023, authorities arrested Tibet Ergul and Chance Brannon for a planned attack at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles during an LGBTQ+ Pride Night event. The plan allegedly involved remotely detonated explosives. The attack was foiled before it could occur. This case was significant because its target was a major sports stadium; Dodger Stadium is one of the most famous baseball arenas in the US and regularly hosts tens of thousands of people.

In 2024, a teenager named Marvin Jalo was arrested for allegedly planning an attack on the Phoenix Pride Festival in Arizona. He reportedly intended to use explosives. Local authorities stated Jalo faced charges related to terrorism and conspiracy to commit terrorism. Although the target was not a sporting event, such festivals share security risk similarities with the World Cup. Both draw massive crowds, take place in public spaces, and can become targets for perpetrators seeking widespread attention.

Also in 2024, Mark Adams Prieto was arrested for allegedly planning a mass shooting at a rap concert at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. US authorities said Prieto chose the location because the concert was expected to be attended by many Black people, and he allegedly wanted to ignite a race war through the attack. This case reaffirmed that large sports and entertainment arenas in the US carry high security risks. State Farm Arena itself is a major venue regularly used for basketball games, concerts, and large-scale public events.

This series of cases shows that threats to major events in the US can come from many directions, with diverse motives including religious extremism, anti-abortion ideology, white supremacy, hatred against specific groups, and a desire to trigger racial conflict. Consequently, the 2026 World Cup is not only a test for participating teams on the pitch but also a major test for US security forces, especially as the tournament brings millions of spectators, dozens of participating nations, and sustained global attention for over a month.