FIFA has issued a statement following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to change some of the host cities for next summer’s 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is scheduled to culminate with the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, 2026.
However, despite the competition being just nine months away, President Trump warned that he could personally intervene to alter the list of U.S. host cities. He claimed he might contact FIFA President Gianni Infantino to pressure Democrat-led cities to adopt tougher measures on 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, 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.”
In response, a FIFA spokesperson told POLITICO:
“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 fulfil all necessary requirements for a successful 2026 World Cup.”
The 2026 World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams and will be spread across 16 cities in North America.
The U.S. will also host another major global sporting event two years later, with Los Angeles set to stage the 2028 Summer Olympics.
