• Loading stock data...
Thursday, October 23, 2025

FIFA Won’t Move 2026 World Cup Matches Despite Trump Remarks

U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested he has singular power to change where FIFA holds World Cup matches in the U.S. The governing body disagrees.

essica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports

FIFA does not have plans to change match sites for next year’s World Cup in North America, despite invective from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding some host cities.

Last week, Trump suggested he could pull matches from some cities as a matter of public safety, with cities such as Atlanta, Seattle, and San Francisco among those that could be reconsidered.

“If I think it’s not safe, we’re going to move it out of that city,” Trump said. “If any city we think is going to be even a little bit dangerous for the World Cup … we won’t allow it to go.”

Trump’s comments arrived as he has unleashed the National Guard and other federal agents on several cities that will be World Cup match hosts, with plans for more. The situation has had a decidedly partisan bent as the Republican president goes after cities run by Democrats.

The global governing body, however, has reaffirmed that it is sticking with its host city plan first established in 2022, and any decisions to change would remain with FIFA. Specific games were assigned in February 2024. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has touted the upcoming final at MetLife Stadium in that state as something poised to be “the most-watched event in human history,” and the match placements are governed with a series of highly detailed contracts that include a temporary exclusion of established stadium names

Any movement at this point would introduce a lengthy series of logistical and legal complications. The situation grows more complex as FIFA, wherever it holds tournaments, relies on local and national governments for support on matters such as security and visa processing.

“It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction, FIFA makes those decisions,” said Victor Montagliani, the organization’s vice president, during a conference in London. “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. That’s the beauty of our game, that it is bigger than any individual and bigger than any country.”

Still, the comments represented a rare divide in a relationship between FIFA and Trump that has grown much closer in recent months. FIFA has an office in Trump Tower in New York, and recently held a high-profile meeting there to hear a proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has also met numerous times at the White House with Trump.

The governing body, meanwhile, plans to hold the final draw for next year’s World Cup on Dec. 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and that venue is now under direct Trump control as he is its board chairman.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

After Heavy Pushback, LaLiga’s Controversial Miami Match Canceled

Hard Rock Stadium was set to host Barcelona-Villarreal on Dec. 20.

The AWS Outage Wreaked Havoc in Sports

Ticketmaster, FanDuel, DraftKings, and Strava all had problems.
[Subscription Customers Only] Jun 19, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; Botafogo owner John Textor before the match during a group stage match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Rose Bowl Stadium.

John Textor Loses Bid to End $97M Suit Tied to Failed Soccer..

Textor told FOS he intends to appeal; Iconic Sports intends to collect.
Hansi Flick

Barcelona Players, Coach ‘Not Happy’ About Miami Game

La Liga is on the verge of relocating a December match.

Featured Today

Christie's

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
@chef__tezz/Instagram
October 19, 2025

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
October 18, 2025

How Vanderbilt Went From SEC Doormat to Dark Horse CFP Candidate

After beating LSU, Clark Lea said: “Internally, we expect to win.”
May 27, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) shoots a three point basket over New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) during the third quarter of game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
October 18, 2025

NBA Stars Swap Wine With League Friends and Foes

A wine-exchange tradition emerged from the bubble season’s close quarters.
January 8, 2023; Maui, Hawaii, USA; Matt Fitzpatrick hits his tee shot on the 11th hole during the final round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament at Kapalua Resort - The Plantation Course.
October 22, 2025

PGA Tour Cancels $20M Season Opener After Moving Out of Maui

The 2026 season will now begin a week later at the Sony Open in Honolulu.
Tony Parker
October 22, 2025

NBA Wants to Launch European League in ‘Next Two Years’

The league is eyeing 10–12 cities for its European venture.
Sponsored

Michelle Wie West: Women’s Sports Doesn’t Need Charity

The LPGA legend on redefining women’s sports and the future of golf.
October 22, 2025

NFL’s Goodell Stands by Bad Bunny: ‘It’s Going to Be a Great..

The commissioner is undeterred by political criticism of the halftime show choice.
Oct 15, 2022; Elmont, New York, USA; An exterior view of UBS Arena before a game between the New York Islanders
October 22, 2025

NHL Cancels Olympic Send-Off, Gives Islanders 2027 All-Star Game

Players will head to the 2026 Olympics without a mid-season NHL event.
October 21, 2025

NFL Wants to Expand International Slate, Will Evaluate Saudi Arabia

The league is evaluating a mix of new and existing markets for 2026.
October 21, 2025

The NBA’s $77B Future Starts Tonight 

Seven 2025 NBA All-Stars will miss the start of the season.