FIFA has firmly pushed back against U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion that he could remove “dangerous” cities from hosting matches at the 2026 World Cup.
Speaking at a sports business conference in London, FIFA vice president Victor Montagliani, who is Canadian and based in Vancouver, reminded that “It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction, FIFA makes those decisions.”
Trump implied last week that host cities which do not align with his immigration and crime crackdowns could be dropped from the 104-game tournament. He also suggested the same approach for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, sparking confusion over host agreements.
Montagliani, who also leads CONCACAF, stressed that football is larger than politics: “With all due respect to current world leaders, football is bigger than them and football will survive their regime and their government and their slogans.”
FIFA finalized its hosting plan in 2022, confirming 11 U.S. cities plus three in Mexico and two in Canada — Toronto and Vancouver. Any late changes would face immense logistical and legal barriers, given the June 11 kickoff is just eight months away.
The World Cup relies heavily on government cooperation for security and visas, but FIFA maintains full control of city selection. While Trump maintains close ties with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, the soccer body has made clear that decisions on venues rest solely with them.
