FIFA Vice President Rejects Trump’s Comments on Changing 2026 World Cup Host Cities
FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani has dismissed recent comments made by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested that some 2026 World Cup host cities in the United States could be changed if there are safety concerns. Montagliani made it clear that only FIFA has the power to make such decisions, not any government.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico — the first time the tournament will return to North America since 1994. Eleven American cities, including Los Angeles, Seattle, and San Francisco, are set to host matches.
However, Trump recently said that if he believes a city isn’t safe, the U.S. government would step in and move matches elsewhere. “If I think it’s not safe, we’re going to move it out of that city. Absolutely,” Trump said.
Montagliani, who is also the president of CONCACAF, strongly pushed back during a sports business event in London. He said, “It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction, FIFA makes those decisions.”
He added that football is bigger than any leader or country. “With all due respect to current world leaders, football is bigger than them. Football will survive their governments and their slogans. That’s the beauty of the game — it’s bigger than any individual.”
The 11 host cities in the U.S., along with three in Mexico and two in Canada, have signed contracts with FIFA. Any attempt to change venues at this stage — with less than a year until the tournament begins — would cause serious legal, financial, and planning problems.
