Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, are warning that a key federal surveillance authority could expire this week, potentially creating gaps in intelligence collection as the U.S. prepares to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In a letter first reported by Punchbowl News, Cotton and Grassley urged Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio to prepare contingency plans if Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act expires on June 12.

The senators wrote that they had worked with Democratic lawmakers since April to negotiate a bipartisan extension and reform package and believed a compromise had been reached that could attract nearly 70 Senate votes.

They argued that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and other Democrats later withdrew support for the agreement, placing the surveillance authority at risk of expiring.

"By walking away from our bipartisan compromise less than a week before the law expires, Senator Schumer has risked the lapse of this critical intelligence authority," the senators wrote.

Cotton and Grassley warned Rubio of a "potential significant gap in foreign intelligence collection" and asked him to convene a Principals Committee meeting to prepare for the possibility that the authority could lapse.

The senators asked the administration to identify intelligence targets that could be affected, determine alternative lawful methods of intelligence collection, and, if necessary, consider a new executive order to address any resulting gaps.

The letter was also sent to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, FBI Director Kash Patel, and NSA Director Joshua Rudd.

The warning comes days after the Senate failed to advance legislation extending the surveillance authority.

A procedural vote to move the measure forward failed 47-52 on June 5, with several Republicans joining Democrats in opposition.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said afterward that lawmakers would revisit the issue this week before the June 12 expiration date.

The World Cup starts Thursday and runs to July 19.

The dispute has been complicated by opposition to President Donald Trump's selection of Bill Pulte to serve as acting director of national intelligence.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said he had negotiated a compromise with Cotton but later opposed moving forward with the legislation.

The United States will host World Cup matches in 11 cities. The soccer tournament is expected to involve extensive coordination among federal, state, and local security agencies.