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FBI official says international coordination is key to a safe World Cup
Summary
Philip Tejera, assistant director of the FBI's International Operations Division, told partners the bureau is convening domestic hosts and international offices to share and action intelligence, citing 63 overseas offices and 39 suboffices and promising after-action reviews to refine processes for future events.
Philip Tejera, assistant director of the FBI's International Operations Division, told assembled partners that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading a coordinated effort with domestic hosts and overseas offices to ensure a safe World Cup.
"The FBI is bringing everybody together here. You have the right people in the room together," Tejera said, describing the meeting as a purpose-driven coordination forum to keep players, attendees and staff safe.
Tejera said the International Operations Division maintains a global footprint — "we have 63 offices overseas, spread throughout the world with 39 suboffices" — and that teams in those locations work with foreign partners "to handle various things that affect the United States involving FBI investigations." He said that representation includes each city and state hosting games as well as international partners responsible for the countries of visiting teams.
"If information comes in, they can go ahead, they can action it and then pass it to the right people within the room to then get it to the right places to mitigate threats," Tejera said, explaining how partners on the ground can move intelligence to the appropriate domestic authorities.
Tejera said organizers will conduct reviews after the event to identify what worked and what did not. "After the dust settles and everything's accomplished successfully, I think there's always an opportunity to refine and become better," he said, stressing the role of after-action learning to improve processes for future events.
Acknowledging the work that happens behind the scenes, Tejera described his role as supporting teams working OCONUS to back FBI cases in the United States. "To be able to sit in this seat to support the people that are doing the work OCONUS to support the FBI cases back here in the United States is my passion, and I'm laser-focused to make sure we're doing that and doing that to the best of our ability," he said.
No formal motions, votes or policy changes were recorded in these remarks; Tejera framed the session as operational coordination and an opportunity for continuous improvement.
