U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that he might reconsider the selection of host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if he perceives safety issues.
Published On 16 Oct 2025
Officials organizing the 2026 FIFA World Cup have downplayed fears that President Donald Trump might relocate matches from cities he views as unsafe.
Last month, the Republican leader hinted at the possibility of shifting games away from Democrat-controlled cities like San Francisco and Seattle if they failed to align with his policies on immigration and crime.
This week, Trump reiterated his stance, this time singling out Boston and its Democratic Mayor Michelle Wu, suggesting he might directly petition FIFA President Gianni Infantino to intervene.
John Kristick, who spearheaded the joint bid by Canada, Mexico, and the United States to host the 2026 tournament, stressed that nearly a decade of meticulous planning remains on track, unaffected by political debates.
“From all indications, preparations are proceeding without any interruptions,” stated Kristick, co-leader of global events at Playfly Sports Consulting.
“Ticket sales have been ongoing for some time, and hospitality packages have been available for nearly a year.”
FIFA announced on Thursday that over one million tickets have already been purchased by fans representing 212 countries and territories worldwide.
The football governing body has previously clarified that it holds the ultimate authority over any changes to the World Cup venues, while emphasizing that safety and security fall under governmental jurisdiction.
“Governments are responsible for determining what measures best protect public safety,” FIFA remarked.
“We anticipate that all 16 host cities will be fully prepared to meet the necessary standards for hosting.”
Ricardo Trade, who led the Local Organizing Committee for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, noted that the United States’ extensive inventory of high-quality stadiums makes relocating matches a viable option-provided any changes occur before the official draw on December 5.
“Given the abundance of large, ready-to-use venues across various states, I see no reason why shifting games wouldn’t be feasible,” said Trade, who also served as CEO for the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 held in the U.S.
New York and New Jersey, set to host eight matches including the final, remain fully engaged, according to Alex Lasry, CEO of the NYNJ Host Committee, with plans for daily fan events throughout the metropolitan area.
“We’ve maintained close communication with FIFA and are collaborating with the White House Task Force. There’s no indication that any games will be moved,” Lasry affirmed.
“While I’m confident in our current schedule, if any games were to be relocated-from Chicago or elsewhere to our region-we would gladly welcome the opportunity to host additional matches.”
