FIFA has confirmed that the U.S. government holds the authority to move matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following recent remarks by President Donald Trump questioning the safety of certain host cities, MySportDab Reports.
In a statement issued Wednesday to several news outlets, including The Athletic, the global soccer body said safety and security remain the responsibility of national and local governments.
“Safety and security are the top priorities at all FIFA events worldwide,” the statement read. “These are obviously the governments’ responsibility, and they decide what is in the best interest for public safety. We hope every one of our 16 host cities will be ready to successfully host and fulfill all necessary requirements.”
The clarification appears to contrast earlier comments from FIFA vice president Victor Montagliani, who insisted that FIFA retains “jurisdiction” over decisions related to match relocation. “With all due respect to current world leaders, football is bigger than them,” Montagliani said earlier this year.
President Trump reignited the debate this week, citing safety concerns in cities like Boston and Chicago during a meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei. “If I feel there’s unsafe conditions, I would call Gianni [Infantino], the head of FIFA, and say, ‘Let’s move it to another location,’ and he would do that,” Trump said.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu responded to the president’s comments, emphasizing that World Cup agreements are legally binding. “Much of it is locked down by contract so that no single person, even if they live in the White House, can undo it,” Wu said on Java with Jimmy. She further criticized the remarks as part of a “hateful agenda” driven by political theater.
Trump first raised the possibility of relocating World Cup matches in September, insisting he would act if any city failed to meet safety standards.
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will feature 104 matches, with 78 scheduled on U.S. soil. The group stage draw is set for December 5 at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
2026 U.S. Host Cities
New York/New Jersey,
Dallas, Kansas City,
Houston, Atlanta,
Los Angeles,
Seattle,
San Francisco Bay Area,
Philadelphia,
Miami,
and Boston.
