In a direct rebuttal to former U.S. President Donald Trump, FIFA unequivocally stated on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, that it, and not any governmental body, holds the ultimate authority in selecting host cities for the 2026 World Cup games.
Trump had previously indicated he might declare certain cities ‘unsafe’ for the expansive 104-game tournament slated for next summer, suggesting he could unilaterally alter the meticulously planned hosting schedule finalized by FIFA in 2022. This plan currently includes prominent NFL stadiums near major U.S. hubs like New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
The current setup involves 11 U.S. host cities, alongside three in Mexico and two in Canada. These cities are bound by contractual agreements with FIFA, meaning any attempts to modify the schedule just eight months before the June 11 kickoff would trigger substantial logistical and legal hurdles for the global football organization.
During a London sports business conference, FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani asserted, “It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction, FIFA makes those decisions.”
Montagliani, who also serves as the Canadian president of CONCACAF, the North American regional soccer body, emphasized that the sport transcends fleeting political discussions. “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,” he declared in an on-stage interview. “That’s the beauty of our game, is that it is bigger than any individual and bigger than any country.”
Trump’s original remarks last week were made in response to inquiries concerning World Cup cities that have voiced opposition to his policies on immigration and crime.
“If I think it’s not safe, we’re going to move it out,” the former U.S. president stated from the Oval Office. He further added, regarding any city potentially “even a little bit dangerous for the World Cup” – and even the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics – “we’ll move it around a little bit. But I hope that’s not going to happen.”
It’s important to note that both the World Cup and the Olympic Games heavily rely on host nation governments, at all levels, for substantial financial commitments towards security, visa processing, and law enforcement. Previous men’s World Cup hosts include Qatar, Russia, Brazil, and South Africa.
Despite Trump’s publicly known close working relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who frequently visits the White House, Infantino has yet to issue a public statement concerning the former president’s comments about cities being deemed too dangerous to host games for the 48-team tournament, which concludes on July 19.