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International football governing body FIFA has expressed confidence that all 16 host cities for the 2026 World Cup will be prepared to stage matches as planned, following remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting that some games could be relocated for security reasons.
In a statement on Wednesday, October 15, a FIFA spokesperson said, “We hope every one of our 16 host cities will be ready to successfully host and fulfil all requirements. Safety and security are the top priorities at all FIFA events worldwide.”
However, the organisation also noted that security measures ultimately fall under governmental authority. “Safety and security are obviously the government’s responsibility, and they decide what is in the best interest of public safety,” the spokesperson added.
President Trump told reporters on Tuesday that FIFA president Gianni Infantino would back moving matches from certain US cities if necessary, citing safety concerns.
“If somebody is doing a bad job and if I feel there are 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,” Trump said at the White House when asked about the host city, Boston.
In September, Trump had hinted at the possibility of shifting games away from Democratic-run cities as part of his wider campaign against what he described as local mismanagement.
He also suggested that similar action could be taken regarding events planned for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The Republican president has previously deployed National Guard troops to several Democratic-led cities, citing concerns about crime and civil unrest — a move that has drawn criticism from state and local officials.
Under current plans, Boston is set to host seven matches at next year’s World Cup, with San Francisco and Seattle scheduled for six each, and Los Angeles hosting eight.
The 2026 tournament — the first to feature 48 teams — will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with 11 of the 16 host cities located in the US.
Earlier this year, Trump appointed himself chairman of a White House task force overseeing preparations for the World Cup.
