FIFA President, Victor Montagliani rebuffs President Trump’s threats to shift 2026 World Cup matches, insisting venue decisions rest solely with football’s global governing body.
FIFA has pushed back against President Donald Trump’s threats to move 2026 World Cup matches between U.S. host cities, saying the tournament’s venues are not under presidential control.
In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly suggested that games could be relocated from certain cities, particularly those led by Democrats such as New York and Los Angeles. He claimed the moves would be justified on safety grounds and said FIFA President Gianni Infantino would support his decision.
But the sport’s world governing body swiftly dismissed any notion that Trump has authority over tournament logistics. In a statement issued Thursday, FIFA underscored that “safety and security are the top priorities at all FIFA events worldwide,” while emphasizing that host governments, not political figures, bear responsibility for ensuring public safety.
“The safety and security of players, fans, and officials are paramount,” FIFA said. “We hope every one of our 16 host cities will be ready to successfully host and fulfil all necessary requirements.”
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The 2026 World Cup will be the largest in history, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with 16 cities across North America staging matches. The event marks the first time the tournament will feature 48 teams instead of 32.
FIFA President reinforced the organization’s independence in determining venues, saying the global body operates under its own jurisdiction.
“It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction, FIFA makes those decisions,” Montagliani said. “With all due respect to current world leaders, football is bigger than them and football will survive their regime and their slogans. That’s the beauty of our game—it’s bigger than any individual and bigger than any country.”
Analysts say Trump’s comments may reflect broader tensions between his administration and several Democratic-led states over federal funding and law enforcement. Still, the President’s remarks have drawn criticism from sports officials and fans, who see them as political interference in one of the world’s most unifying events.
Despite the controversy, preparations for the 2026 World Cup remain on track, with FIFA continuing venue inspections and infrastructure assessments across all 16 cities. The organization said it remains confident that local authorities in each location will meet the required standards ahead of the tournament’s kickoff.
