FIFA Reasserts Control Over 2026 World Cup Hosting, Rebuffs Trump’s Safety Concerns
FIFA, the international governing body for soccer, has firmly reminded U.S. President Donald Trump that it—not any national government—holds the ultimate authority over decisions regarding the 2026 World Cup host cities. The clarification came Wednesday following Trump’s recent suggestion that he could unilaterally deem cities “not safe” for the tournament and alter the existing hosting plan.
The 2026 World Cup, set to be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is already contracted with 11 U.S. cities, three in Mexico, and two in Canada. The detailed plan, confirmed by FIFA in 2022, utilizes NFL stadiums in metropolitan areas including New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Any significant changes with only eight months remaining before the June 11, 2026 kickoff would present substantial logistical and legal challenges.
“It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction, FIFA makes those decisions,” stated Victor Montagliani, FIFA’s vice president, during a sports business conference in London. Montagliani, who also serves as the president of the North American regional soccer body CONCACAF, emphasized the enduring power of the sport itself.
“With all due respect to current world leaders, football is bigger than them and football will survive their regime and their government and their slogans,” Montagliani said in an on-stage interview. “That’s the beauty of our game, is that it is bigger than any individual and bigger than any country.”
Trump’s comments last week stemmed from a question regarding World Cup cities that have expressed opposition to his administration’s immigration and crime policies. “If I think it’s not safe, we’re going to move it out,” the President declared from the Oval Office. He further indicated a willingness to relocate games from any city perceived as “even a little bit dangerous,” extending the potential scope to include the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
While FIFA maintains ultimate control, the success of both the World Cup and the Olympic Games relies heavily on the commitment of host nation governments at all levels. These commitments encompass substantial financial contributions for security, visa processing, and law enforcement—totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. The most recent men’s World Cup hosts—Qatar, Russia, Brazil, and South Africa—all required significant governmental support.
Notably, Trump maintains a close working relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who is a frequent visitor to the White House. However, Infantino has yet to publicly address the issue of cities being deemed unsafe to host games in the 48-team tournament, which will conclude on July 19, 2026.
