Senior organisers behind the 2026 FIFA World Cup have dismissed concerns that U.S. President Donald Trump could move matches from cities he considers “unsafe”.
Last month, Trump suggested that games might be relocated from Democrat-controlled San Francisco and Seattle if these cities did not comply with his immigration and crime policies. This week, he repeated the claim, targeting Boston and its Democratic Mayor Michelle Wu, even hinting at appealing directly to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
However, John Kristick, who co-led the successful joint bid by Canada, Mexico and the United States to host the 2026 tournament, emphasised that planning has been ongoing for nearly a decade and remains unaffected by political rhetoric.
“From what I’m seeing, there has been zero distraction in terms of preparedness,” Kristick, co-head of global events at Playfly Sports Consulting, told Reuters. “Tickets are already being sold, and hospitality packages have been available for almost a year.”
FIFA confirmed that over one million World Cup tickets have already been purchased, with fans from 212 countries and territories securing seats.
The United States will host 11 of the 16 cities for the largest edition of the tournament to date, which will feature 48 teams and 104 matches. This will mark the first World Cup in the U.S. since 1994, a tournament widely credited with boosting soccer’s profile in the country.
Earlier this year, officials in Miami moved to reassure fans that stricter U.S. immigration policies would not deter overseas supporters. FIFA reiterated that it has the final say on any match relocations but added that safety and security are the responsibility of local governments, which decide what is in the best interest of public safety.
Ricardo Trade, CEO of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Local Organising Committee, said that the abundance of high-quality stadiums across the United States makes relocating matches feasible, provided it occurs before the 5 December draw. “In a country like the United States, where every state has large, ready-to-use stadiums, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be possible,” Trade said.
New York and New Jersey, which will host eight games including the final, remain focused on preparations, according to NYNJ Host Committee CEO Alex Lasry. “We’ve spoken to FIFA and are working with the White House Task Force. I don’t think there’s any worry about games being moved,” he said. “If anyone wants to move games from Chicago or elsewhere to here, we’re more than excited to host them.”
