U.S. President Donald Trump was reminded on Wednesday that FIFA has the ultimate authority in determining the host cities for the 2026 World Cup, rather than any government. Last week, Trump had suggested the possibility of declaring certain cities as “unsafe” for the soccer tournament and potentially changing the hosting plan approved by FIFA in 2022, which includes NFL stadiums in proximity to New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
The 11 U.S. host cities, along with three in Mexico and two in Canada (Toronto and Vancouver), have contractual agreements with FIFA. Making alterations to the hosting arrangements within the eight months leading up to the June 11 kick-off would present significant logistical and legal challenges for FIFA.
Speaking at a sports business conference in London, FIFA’s vice president Victor Montagliani, based in Vancouver, emphasized that FIFA holds the jurisdiction and decision-making power over the tournament. The president of the North American regional soccer body CONCACAF echoed this sentiment, stating that the sport transcends any current political debates.
Trump’s remarks last week were prompted by concerns about World Cup cities opposing his policies on immigration and crime. He asserted that if he deems a city unsafe, the event could be relocated. However, Trump expressed hope that such a scenario would not arise.
Both the World Cup and Olympic Games rely on commitments from host nation governments for substantial financial support in areas such as security, visa processing, and law enforcement. The previous hosts of the men’s World Cup were Qatar, Russia, Brazil, and South Africa.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who maintains a close relationship with Trump, has not publicly addressed the issue of cities being deemed too dangerous to host matches at the 48-team tournament, scheduled to conclude on July 19.
