The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has responded to comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to change the 2026 World Cup host cities less than a year before the tournament kicks off.
The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with the final scheduled for July 19 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
However, during a cabinet meeting on Sunday, October 12, President Trump warned that he could intervene and push for the relocation of matches from certain Democrat-run cities if they fail to address public safety and crime concerns.
“If somebody is doing a bad job and I feel there are unsafe conditions, I would call Gianni (Infantino), who’s phenomenal, and I would say, ‘Let’s move it to another location,’” Trump said.
“He wouldn’t love to do it, but he would do it very easily.”
Responding to Trump’s comments, a FIFA spokesperson told POLITICO that the organization prioritizes safety but emphasized that governments are responsible for ensuring security in host locations.
“Safety and security are of the utmost importance at all FIFA events worldwide.
And it is ultimately the government’s responsibility to decide what’s in the best interest of public safety.
We hope every one of our 16 host cities will be ready to fulfill all necessary requirements for a successful 2026 World Cup,” the spokesperson said.
The United States is set to host two major global sporting events in the coming years — the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
