Trump Threatens to Move 2026 World Cup Matches

On Sept. 25–26 in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump said he would consider relocating 2026 FIFA World Cup matches from U.S. host cities he deems “unsafe,” specifically naming Seattle and San Francisco and calling some local leaders “radical left lunatics.” He said matches could be moved to other cities, mentioning Memphis and Chicago, and framed the threat as part of broader crime and immigration efforts while noting recent National Guard deployments. Observers note that FIFA — not the White House — formally controls venue selection and that changing sites in the complex, 16-venue, 48-team tournament would be difficult. Trump chairs the U.S. World Cup taskforce and has a close relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, which some see as potentially increasing his leverage. The U.S. is scheduled to host 78 of 104 matches across 11 cities from June 11–July 19, 2026, and critics point to declining crime trends and legal and logistical constraints that make it unclear whether Trump can or will follow through.