Trump Threatens Moving 2026 World Cup Matches From San Francisco Seattle Over Safety Concerns

President Donald Trump has threatened to move the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches out of U.S. cities he deems unsafe, specifically targeting Democratic-run cities such as Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Trump criticized these cities as being "run by radical left lunatics" and expressed concerns about crime, although it remains unclear what legal authority he has to enforce such changes. FIFA, which controls match organization and venue selection, has not indicated any plans to alter the host cities, and local officials and organizing committees have dismissed Trump's threats as baseless and divisive. The World Cup will be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with 78 of the 104 matches played in 11 U.S. cities, including the ones Trump criticized. Despite Trump's role as chair of the U.S. World Cup task force and his close relationship with FIFA's president, logistical and contractual challenges make any last-minute venue changes unlikely. His comments come amid his broader political agenda focused on crime and security, with prior federal deployments to cities like Los Angeles and Chicago despite reported drops in crime rates.