Trump Suggests Moving World Cup Games Over “Unsafe” U.S. Cities

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has stirred fresh debate after suggesting that 2026 FIFA World Cup matches could be relocated from certain American cities he deems “unsafe.”

Speaking during a recent event, Trump said he would not hesitate to contact FIFA President Gianni Infantino if he felt any host city was failing in its security or management responsibilities.

“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 — he wouldn’t love it, but he’d do it easily,” Trump declared.

2026 World Cup Context:

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be the largest in history, will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with 16 cities — including Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Dallas, and Boston — serving as venues.

Trump’s comments came days after reports of public disorder incidents in Boston, a city governed by Democrat Michelle Wu, which he cited as an example of “bad leadership and unsafe conditions.”

How Realistic Is Trump’s Claim?

While Trump’s statement made headlines, the power to move or revoke host cities rests solely with FIFA, not the U.S. federal government.
FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani reaffirmed that “FIFA makes those decisions” and emphasized that existing hosting contracts, finalized since 2022, are binding and extremely difficult to alter.

Each host city has already committed to strict security, infrastructure, and logistics requirements, with billions invested in stadium upgrades and transport systems — making any last-minute relocation logistically complex and financially damaging.

Political and Public Reactions:

Trump’s remarks have sparked a flurry of political responses.
Supporters argue that he is highlighting legitimate safety concerns in U.S. cities struggling with crime and homelessness. Critics, however, view his comments as politically motivated attacks on Democratic-led areas ahead of the 2026 presidential campaign.

Officials in several host cities, including Boston, have since reaffirmed their readiness to host World Cup events safely, dismissing Trump’s warnings as “unrealistic.”

Here is the the Bigger Picture:

Security has always been a major consideration for FIFA events. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and local agencies are already coordinating on nationwide security measures for the 2026 tournament.

While Trump’s influence over FIFA’s decisions is limited, his comments underscore how global sporting events can easily become entangled in domestic politics — especially in an election season.

To crown it, Trump’s statement reflects his ongoing narrative about urban safety and leadership but, in practical terms, moving World Cup games from U.S. cities would be nearly impossible without breaching international contracts and causing major logistical upheaval.