Amid uncertainty regarding the venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, FIFA Vice-President Victor Montagliani has stated that the decision to move matches away from host cities rests solely with FIFA, not with political figures. His statement comes after comments from former U.S. President Donald Trump about potentially moving games from cities he deems "dangerous".
Trump raised the possibility of relocating World Cup matches from certain U.S. cities if he believed they were unsafe. Speaking from the Oval Office, he specifically mentioned Seattle and San Francisco, criticizing their leadership and safety records. Trump stated that "If we believe that any city might even be slightly unsafe for the World Cup… because they're playing in so many cities, we won't allow it. We'll move it around a little bit". He also suggested that the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games could face similar issues if local safety doesn't improve.
Montagliani, speaking at Leaders Week London, firmly asserted FIFA's authority on the matter. "It's FIFA's tournament, FIFA's jurisdiction, FIFA makes those decisions," he said. He emphasized that football is "bigger" than political rhetoric and would outlast any leader or government.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Eleven U.S. cities are slated to host matches, including Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Boston, Philadelphia, Seattle, and San Francisco. Lumen Field in Seattle and Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara (near San Francisco) are each scheduled to host six matches.
Trump's remarks have sparked debate and concern, particularly in the cities he singled out. However, local leaders have responded with assurances that their cities will be ready and safe to host the World Cup games. Regarding Atlanta, both Gov. Brian Kemp's office and Mayor Andre Dickens's office affirmed that the matches would proceed as planned, highlighting declining crime rates and ongoing safety coordination efforts.
Experts suggest that relocating games would be a monumental and unprecedented task. Agreements between FIFA and the host cities have been in place for years, making any last-minute changes highly improbable. Despite not having direct authority, Trump's close relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino has raised concerns about potential influence. The official draw for the 2026 World Cup is scheduled for December 5 in Washington.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first to feature 48 participating teams, making it a massive logistical undertaking.
