FIFA said Wednesday it remains confident that all 16 host cities will be ready to stage games at the 2026 World Cup, despite U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting that matches could be moved for security reasons.
“We hope every one of our 16 host cities will be ready to successfully host and meet all requirements,” a FIFA spokesperson said, adding that safety and security are top priorities for all FIFA events worldwide.
The spokesperson also noted that ensuring public safety is ultimately the government’s responsibility.
Trump said Tuesday that FIFA President Gianni Infantino would support relocating games from U.S. cities if necessary, following his earlier comments raising the possibility of moving matches amid concerns about Democratic-run cities.
“If somebody is doing a bad job and if I feel there are unsafe conditions, I would call Gianni, the head of FIFA, who’s phenomenal, and I would say, let’s move it to another location. And he would do that,” Trump told reporters at the White House, referring to Boston—one of the 2026 host cities.
Trump added that Olympic events for Los Angeles 2028 could also be moved if safety became an issue.
Boston is scheduled to host seven World Cup games, while San Francisco and Seattle will host six each and Los Angeles eight.
The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with 11 of the 16 venues located in the U.S. The expanded tournament will feature 48 teams and run from June 11 to July 19.
Earlier this year, Trump appointed himself chairman of a White House task force overseeing World Cup preparations.
