The man who ran security at 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the 1996 Atlanta Games — where a bomber killed two and wounded more than 100 — warns that Iranian “sleeper cells” are likely plotting attacks during next month’s World Cup, as federal officials race to secure the 39-day competition.
“I’m fairly confident there are Iranian sleeper cells or surrogate sleeper cells, and this would be an incredible opportunity for sleeper cells to attack,” Former LAPD Deputy Chief Bill Rathburn told The Post.
His comments came after the feds warned about Iranian “prepositioned sleeper assets” in the US while the war with Iran raged. The fighting is down to a simmer after the US launched strikes on Iranian targets Thursday following attacks on three US ships in a response President Trump called a “love tap.”
Chris Swecker, who ran security for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, held in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, also pointed to Middle East turmoil as a concerning threat factor.
“There’s an animation around the sport to begin with,” said Swecker, who served as assistant director of the FBI. “You’ve got the presence of foes coming to the World Cup from different parts of the world. It’s not like it can escape the radar of terrorist organizations. It’s right there front and center.”
He cited the threat from “card-carrying terrorist cells, as well as the influence those that have been radicalized on the Internet.”
Iranian sleeper cells would be at the “top of the list,” Swecker said, and mentioned those backed by Hamas and Hezbollah — “but also Al Qaeda . . . all the different iterations of ISIS. I mean, all of them. And then there’s nut cases that sort of loosely align themselves with one or more of these terrorist organizations and the causes they espouse. And they’re out there. And all they need to do is add water and they’re activated.”
So-called soft targets are as much of a concern as the stadiums themselves, officials said.
“You have to have the best intelligence that you could put in place,” Rathburn said.
The Secret Service is the lead agency of designated National Special Security Events like the World Cup, but the agency has been faulted for security breaches.
US officials are cognizant of the threat to the event and its 11 host cities. The constant imperative of securing high-profile events was brought home after a shooter allegedly tried to kill President Trump and top cabinet officials at the White House Correspondents Dinner last month.
Intelligence officials believe the shooter’s planned rampage, described in an unhinged manifesto, may have been motivated by the war.
The World Cup poses a unique challenge. Forty-eight teams are competing in three countries — the US, Canada and Mexico — over a period of 39 days. The first US match, against Panama in Los Angeles, is set for June 12.
The US will host 78 of the tournament’s 104 matches from June through July — including eight at MetLife, culminating with the final there on July 19.
Congress passed and Trump signed into law $625 million to secure the event, including funds for police overtime at “fan fests” that will beam video of the matches to gatherings around the country. The feds have drawn on $250 million in funding to have the FBI train local authorities in how to combat potential drone swarms.
And the Transportation Department is distributing $100 million in funds to secure passage to the events, where even Trump, a billionaire, has complained about sky-high ticket prices.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is organizing exercises, background checks, and bolstering cyber defenses.
New York and New Jersey are throwing resources at World Cup security — $17.2 million in counter-drone technology, 175 new subway cops, and a ban on other large summer events to free up NYPD resources.
“The FIFA 2026 World Cup will no doubt be one of the greatest and most spectacular events in the history of mankind, attracting millions of fans from around the world to eleven host cities across America,” said White House spokesman Davis Ingle. “President Trump is focused on ensuring that this is not only an incredible experience for all fans and visitors, but the also the safest and most secure in history.”
