US President Donald Trump announced that he would consider making alterations to the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches. This potential relocation would occur if he determined that a particular state or city was ‘unsecured’ in its preparations or overall safety for the prestigious international tournament.
The United States is preparing to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside its North American neighbors, Canada and Mexico. This upcoming edition of the global football spectacle is set to be historic, as it will be the first time the tournament features an expanded format with 48 national teams competing in the finals.
Eleven major US cities are currently slated to organize matches, with New York/New Jersey specifically mentioned as a potential location for the final match. The President’s remarks were made during a White House briefing on September 25.
During the briefing, journalists pressed President Trump regarding his intentions to potentially change the tournament arrangements, particularly concerning cities or states that might not align with his administration’s immigration policies. In response to these queries, President Trump stated, “If I think it’s not safe, then we will be able to move to another city.”
According to reports from White House journalists, cities like San Francisco and Seattle were highlighted as potential candidates for removal from the list of World Cup host cities. However, a spokesperson for the Seattle City Council, Hana Tadesse, countered these concerns, asserting that Seattle is a safe city and fully capable of smoothly organizing World Cup games.
In related developments, President Trump had previously deployed federal troops and security personnel to various US states. These deployments were aimed at curbing the spread of crime and facilitating the arrest of individuals residing illegally in the US, with the intention of returning them to their countries of origin.
