UK police will escort only three officers to the 2026 World Cup in the US, despite 10,000 English fans travelling. American authorities declined to fund the mobile delegation, leaving the Home Office to deploy a minimal team to maintain order and liaise with local law enforcement during matches at venues.

Roberts, head of the UK deployment, outlined a model used in Russia and Qatar, where 6–10 officers covered stadiums, city centres and transport hubs. He noted the US hosts 18,000 agencies, making local policing more fragmented and reducing the UK’s ability to monitor fan movement across venues during the tournament.

The limited squad will focus on briefings with local police, ensuring fans understand acceptable behaviour and that any incidents are swiftly addressed. With only three officers, the UK delegation will rely heavily on American resources, a compromise that could affect fan safety oversight during high‑pressure matches in the final stages.