Organizers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have unequivocally rejected former U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to relocate host cities, emphasizing that nearly a decade of meticulous planning will remain undisturbed. This comes as ticket sales and hospitality packages for the prestigious tournament have already been available for close to a year.
Donald Trump, at 79 years old, issued a warning stating that he would withdraw hosting rights from any city he deemed unsafe or insecure for the 2026 World Cup. This marked his second such public statement, following an initial discussion on the matter in late September. The threats were largely perceived as targeting cities in states that have not aligned with his political initiatives on crime crackdown and illegal immigration enforcement.
In September, Trump specifically warned the city administrations of San Francisco and Seattle for their perceived lack of cooperation with the federal government. More recently, Boston, Massachusetts, also faced direct threats from the former president. In response to these warnings, Boston’s Democratic Mayor Michelle Wu affirmed that she would appeal directly to FIFA President Gianni Infantino if such a scenario were to materialize.
John Kristick, a key figure behind the successful joint bid by Canada, Mexico, and the United States to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, addressed the threats directly. As a leader within the organizing committee, Kristick confirmed that no changes or disruptions to the comprehensive plans were anticipated.
“Based on what I have personally observed, there has not been even the slightest disturbance during our preparations for this tournament,” Kristick stated. “Tickets and hospitality packages have both been on sale for almost a year now.”
To date, over one million tickets for the tournament have already been sold, according to an official announcement from FIFA. The initial online sales phase saw an overwhelming response, with fans from 212 countries across the globe securing their spots.
FIFA has consistently expressed its confidence in the 16 co-host cities across the three nations, expecting them to be fully prepared for the tournament. This includes upholding their individual responsibilities for security and safety arrangements within their respective regions, a duty that falls under the purview of each host city’s administration.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be a historic event, marking the first time the tournament expands to include 48 participating teams. Hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, 28 teams, including the three host nations, have already secured their qualification berths. The competition is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
