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Washington, DC – September 26, 2025
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has stirred controversy after announcing his intention to move 2026 World Cup matches out of any U.S. cities he deems “unsafe” — a move that could potentially upend FIFA’s logistical plans for the historic 48-team tournament.
The United States is set to host 78 of the 104 matches in the first-ever expanded World Cup, co-hosted with Canada and Mexico. The final is scheduled to take place on American soil.
However, Trump — who currently chairs the U.S. World Cup Taskforce and maintains a close working relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino — told reporters in the Oval Office that safety concerns could prompt venue changes.
“It will be safe for the World Cup,” Trump said. “If I think it isn’t safe, we’ll move it into a different city.”
Targeted Cities
Trump’s remarks appeared to take aim particularly at Democratic-led cities. He singled out Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles — all scheduled to host multiple matches — suggesting these locations may be reconsidered.
“If any city we think is going to be even a little bit dangerous… we won’t allow it to go. We’ll move it around a little bit,” he added.
The 11 designated U.S. host cities are:
- Atlanta
- Boston
- Dallas
- Houston
- Kansas City
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- New York/New Jersey
- Philadelphia
- San Francisco
- Seattle
FIFA, the global governing body of football, is solely responsible for organising the tournament and selecting host venues. While Trump holds an influential position, it is unclear whether he has the legal or administrative authority to unilaterally change host cities at this stage.
Security and Politics Intertwined
Trump has made urban crime and immigration enforcement central to his political messaging. Last month, he deployed National Guard troops and federal officers to Washington, DC, despite declining crime rates since their 2023 peak.
He also confirmed plans to send troops into Memphis and Chicago, and in June ordered 2,000 National Guardsmen into Los Angeles amid unrest related to immigration raids.
Critics argue that Trump is using the World Cup to advance political narratives ahead of the 2026 U.S. presidential election, while supporters claim he is taking a proactive stance to ensure national security during a major international event.
FIFA Yet to Respond
As of Friday, FIFA has not issued an official response to Trump’s remarks. Changing host cities would present significant logistical and contractual challenges, including stadium readiness, accommodation capacity, and transport infrastructure.
The group stage draw is scheduled to take place on December 5 in Washington, DC, setting the tone for a tournament set to run from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
Past World Cup Comments
This is not the first time Trump has weighed in on the 2026 tournament.
In May 2025, he controversially suggested that allowing Russia to participate in the World Cup could serve as an “incentive” for ending the war in Ukraine — despite Russia being banned from international football by FIFA and UEFA since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
In March, Trump claimed that political tensions between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico could “boost interest” in the tournament, shortly after imposing new tariffs on U.S. imports from both neighbours.
