Leaked dossier reveals bomb threats against Messi at 2026 World Cup

Lionel Messi was the target of multiple alleged terror threats during the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, including a plot involving homemade bombs and a semi-automatic rifle, according to a leaked police dossier first reported by Spanish outlet Informacion.es.gulfnews+1

The dossier, compiled from FBI and International Police Cooperation Center records, showed that the Argentine captain received the highest number of threats of any player during the tournament.firstpost+1

Bomb Threats in Dallas and Atlanta

One of the most alarming incidents occurred ahead of Argentina's group-stage match against Jordan at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on June 28. A man called Dallas Airport claiming he and two others were heading to the stadium with "homemade bombs and an AR-15," making "special mention of Lionel Messi" and threatening police officers and players from both teams.tbsnews+2

A second threat emerged before Argentina's match against Egypt on July 7 in Atlanta. A user on X allegedly wrote, "I'm about to enter Atlanta's stadium and blow up Messi with four bombs strapped to my body". During the same match, police received a separate call from a man claiming to have placed three bombs in trash cans inside the stadium. The alert triggered an extensive search by explosives specialists and K-9 units, though no devices were found.gulfnews+1

Ronaldo, Mbappé and Officials Also Targeted

Messi was not the only high-profile figure threatened. According to the dossier, Cristiano Ronaldo faced the most harassment during the tournament. On June 14, a FIFA employee flagged a suspicious individual seeking details about Ronaldo's hotel accommodations in Houston; police arrested the man two days later at the Portugal team's hotel. A separate incident in Toronto saw a man arrested after attempting to enter an elevator with Ronaldo.firstpost+2

France's Kylian Mbappé was subjected to xenophobic abuse, while referee François Letexier received more than 6,000 threatening messages on his personal WhatsApp after officiating the Argentina-Egypt match. His family in France was placed under police protection.newagebd+1

Coordinated Security Response

The incidents were monitored by the FBI in coordination with the IPCC, which brought together U.S. federal agencies and law enforcement from participating nations to track terrorism alerts, threats against players, and fan-related disturbances throughout the tournament. The leaked dossier has renewed scrutiny of security measures at the largest FIFA World Cup ever held, which was co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, and won by Spain after a 1-0 victory over Argentina in the final.gulfnews+2