WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that FIFA President Gianni Infantino would support moving 2026 World Cup matches from US cities for security reasons if necessary.
Trump’s remarks followed ongoing discussions over public safety and city preparedness ahead of the global tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Donald Trump stated, “If somebody is doing a bad job and if I feel there’s unsafe conditions, I would call Gianni, the head of FIFA, who’s phenomenal, and I would say, let’s move it to another location. And he would do that. Very easily he would do it.”
His comments reignited debate over the authority to relocate games from certain host cities amid rising security concerns and political friction between the federal and local governments.
Trump raises security concerns over Democratic-run cities
In September, Trump first raised the idea of shifting World Cup games away from certain Democratic-run cities, suggesting that their local administrations were “failing to maintain law and order.” At that time, FIFA had clarified that the decision over match venues lay solely with the football’s global governing body.
Despite this, Trump reiterated his position on Tuesday, insisting that the safety of fans and players would be his top priority.
Boston, one of the host cities for the 2026 tournament, has drawn particular scrutiny from Trump, who cited it as an example during his remarks.
The president’s administration has, in recent months, deployed National Guard troops to several Democratic-led cities across the US, citing rising crime rates and what he described as “left-wing activism.”
“Security comes first,” Donald Trump said. “If I think a city is not ready, I won’t hesitate to take action to protect Americans and international visitors.”
Meeting with FIFA chief Gianni Infantino in Egypt
Trump’s remarks came just a day after he met FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Egypt during a summit on a Gaza ceasefire, which was attended by more than two dozen world leaders. Infantino, who has often praised Trump’s enthusiasm for sports diplomacy, was also part of broader discussions about promoting peace and international cooperation through football.
The US president described Infantino as a “phenomenal leader” and said their discussions also touched on ensuring the safety and success of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to Trump, both leaders agreed that “security and preparedness must take precedence over politics.”
Potential implications for host cities
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams, expanding from the traditional 32, and will be spread across 16 cities in North America. The United States will host the majority of matches, with Mexico and Canada sharing the rest.
Boston is currently slated to host seven games, while Los Angeles will host eight. San Francisco and Seattle are expected to stage six matches each.
Asked specifically about Boston’s readiness, Donald Trump said, “If I feel there’s a lack of safety or preparedness, we’ll make changes. The goal is to have a safe and successful World Cup — wherever that may be.”
He also extended his comments to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, hinting at possible intervention if he believed preparations were inadequate.
“I could say the same thing for the Olympics,” Trump noted. “If I thought LA was not going to be prepared properly, I would move it to another location.”
White House task force for World Cup preparations
Earlier this year, Donald Trump appointed himself as chairman of a White House task force focused on coordinating the US’s hosting of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The task force, according to administration officials, is designed to oversee logistics, infrastructure, and national security aspects tied to the tournament.
The United States last hosted a FIFA World Cup in 1994, which remains one of the most commercially successful tournaments in football history.
As preparations intensify for 2026, Trump’s latest comments have added political weight to an already complex hosting arrangement, raising questions about federal involvement in city-level security operations.
FIFA, meanwhile, has yet to comment on Trump’s latest statement, maintaining that it continues to work closely with all host nations to ensure a “safe, inclusive, and successful tournament.”
