As anticipation builds for the 2026 FIFA World Cup across North America, a recent clash between global football’s governing body and former U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked controversy. Trump suggested that some U.S. host cities could be dropped over safety concerns—comments that FIFA swiftly rebuked, reaffirming its sole authority over the tournament’s logistics.
FIFA Reasserts Authority Amid Political Tension
Victor Montagliani, FIFA vice president and president of Concacaf, firmly rejected Trump’s claims during a recent appearance at a sports business conference in London. Speaking directly on the issue, Montagliani emphasized that only FIFA has the jurisdiction to determine host cities for the World Cup, not any political leader.
“It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction, FIFA makes those decisions,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.
Victor Montagliani, FIFA vice president and president of Concacaf.
Montagliani’s comments come as a direct rebuttal to Trump’s remarks last week, where the former president indicated he would move World Cup matches from cities he deems unsafe.
Trump’s Comments Spark Concern
During a recent speech, Trump declared, “It will be safe for the World Cup. If I think it isn’t safe, we’ll move it to a different city. Absolutely.” His comments quickly raised questions about the political influence over an international sporting event that is, by contract and design, governed independently by FIFA.
Trump’s remarks appear to be a continuation of his long-standing disputes with several U.S. cities, including Seattle and San Francisco, both of which are scheduled to host World Cup matches and have publicly clashed with Trump on policy matters in the past.
Host City Contracts Complicate Any Changes
The 2026 World Cup is set to be the largest in history, featuring expanded teams and taking place across 16 cities in three countries: 11 in the U.S., three in Mexico, and two in Canada. Each host city has a binding agreement with FIFA, and any alterations this late in the planning process—just nine months out—would carry significant logistical, financial, and legal complications.
As of now, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has not issued a public response to the controversy.
U.S. to Open Campaign in Los Angeles
The U.S. men’s national team is scheduled to open its 2026 World Cup journey at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles before heading to Seattle’s Lumen Field for a second group-stage match. However, if Trump continues to press for venue changes, the political spotlight may begin to overshadow the tournament’s sporting excitement—particularly in cities like Seattle, which have long opposed his policies.
Tournament Draw Coming in December
The official World Cup draw is set for December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where final match pairings and locations will be confirmed. While Trump’s statements have stirred debate, FIFA’s message is clear: decisions about the World Cup remain in the hands of football’s global leadership, not political figures.
