Arapahoe County Mounted Unit heading to Missouri for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV) -The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) announced its mounted unit will be heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup to help out the Kansas City Police Department.

On June 9, Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Patrol Unit deputies will travel to Kansas City to assist with security and crowd control during the tournament.

According to the sheriff’s office, the entire task force dedicated to the tournament will consist of officers from Arkansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Ohio and Colorado.

They said three ACSO deputies and four horses will make the trip and assist in maintaining order and enhancing public safety outside Arrowhead Stadium during the following matches:

• Argentina vs. Algeria – June 16
• Ecuador vs. Curacao – June 20
• Tunisia vs. Netherlands – June 25
• Algeria vs. Austria – June 27
• Playoff game – July 3
• Quarterfinal game – July 11

The unit will also assist with the FIFA Fan Festival.

“Our mounted unit will serve as a highly visible law enforcement presence during the World Cup,” Lt. Rich Anselmi said. “Mounted deputies have an elevated vantage point that allows them to monitor large crowds and quickly identify potential security concerns. Our horses are highly trained and can move effectively through congested areas, help guide large groups of enthusiastic fans, and serve as friendly community ambassadors.”

ACSO said the horses have undergone training to simulate situations they may be in during the tournament, including exposure to smoke bombs, fireworks, flares and other loud noises. This training helps the horses remain steady, effective and safe during crowd control situations.

“We were honored to be invited to participate in the FIFA World Cup event. Our horses truly enjoy this type of work. By nature, horses like having a job, and we can see how much they enjoy the teamwork and interacting with people,” Lt. Anselmi said.