Two separate violent incidents in US World Cup host cities have left nine people injured, raising safety concerns just three days before the tournament kicks off. In New York, six people were stabbed at Penn Station on Sunday, while in Kansas City, Missouri, nine sustained non-life-threatening injuries in a shooting near England's training base on Saturday.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed the stabbing, stating that the alleged perpetrator is in custody. City Comptroller Mark Levine suggested the suspect is 'an emotionally disturbed homeless person'. Governor Kathy Hochul described the attack as 'an act of horrific violence'. All victims are expected to survive.

The incident occurred at one of the nation's busiest transport hubs, directly beneath Madison Square Garden, which will host NBA Finals games on Monday and Wednesday. MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will stage its first World Cup match on Saturday. US President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend Monday's NBA game.

Security has been heightened ahead of the events. New York had already cancelled an outdoor watch party for Monday after a police officer was assaulted and 26 arrested during a previous gathering. Kansas City police have no suspects in custody; at least three victims were hospitalized.

The 48-team, 104-match World Cup presents an unprecedented security challenge, especially for the US hosting 78 matches across 11 cities. A multi-agency security apparatus, including federal, state, and local police, is in place. Drones are banned over stadiums, and the FBI will activate joint operations centers in each host city.

The tournament has the same federal security designation as the Super Bowl. So far, no credible threats have been identified, according to Andrew Giuliani, executive director of Trump's World Cup task force. The Department of Homeland Security estimates up to seven million visitors for the event. Gun violence remains prevalent in the US, with over 400 mass shootings recorded in 2025.

Source: www.aljazeera.com