FIFA has responded after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested he could change some of the host cities for next summer’s World Cup.
The 2026 tournament is set to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with the final scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. But despite the competition being just nine months away, Trump warned he might intervene if he feels certain U.S. cities aren’t doing enough to tackle crime.
Speaking during a cabinet meeting on Sunday, October 12, Trump said:
“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.’ He wouldn’t love to do it, but he would do it very easily.”
The president claimed he could personally contact FIFA President Gianni Infantino to pressure Democrat-run cities to tighten security measures.
In a statement to POLITICO, a FIFA spokesperson emphasized that “safety and security are of the utmost importance at all FIFA events worldwide.” The spokesperson added:
“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 U.S. is gearing up to host two of the world’s biggest sporting events in the next few years: the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
