FIFA Affirms Sole Authority Over 2026 World Cup Host Cities Amid Political Disputes

FIFA Vice President and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani has firmly stated that FIFA holds the sole authority over the selection and management of host cities for the 2026 World Cup, dismissing U.S. President Donald Trump's suggestions that games could be moved from cities he considers unsafe. Montagliani emphasized that the tournament belongs to FIFA and that governmental leaders, including Trump, do not have jurisdiction over these decisions, highlighting that football transcends political debates and will outlast any current regime or slogans. The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, involving 16 venues with contracts already in place, making any unilateral changes logistically and legally complex. Montagliani also addressed operational challenges such as match scheduling, noting that some games involving European teams will be played late at night UK time to avoid extreme heat, following lessons from recent tournaments. Furthermore, FIFA is handling geopolitical issues internally, with decisions about the participation of certain national teams falling to regional bodies like UEFA rather than FIFA directly. Overall, FIFA is focused on ensuring the tournament's success and fairness, irrespective of political pressures or statements made by world leaders.