FIFA Releases Statement Following Donald Trump’s World Cup Threat
FIFA has released a statement following U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to alter the host cities for next summer’s World Cup.
The tournament, scheduled to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will conclude with the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19.
Despite the event being just nine months away, Trump warned that he might intervene to change some of the U.S. host cities. He claimed he could contact FIFA President Gianni Infantino to urge Democrat-run cities to adopt tougher crime policies.
Speaking during a cabinet meeting on Sunday, October 12, Trump said, “If somebody is doing a bad job and I feel there are unsafe conditions, I would call Gianni, who’s phenomenal, and I would say, ‘Let’s move it to another location.’”
“He wouldn’t love to do it, but he would do it very easily.”
In response, a FIFA spokesperson told POLITICO: “Safety and security are of the utmost importance at all FIFA events worldwide.
“And it is ultimately the government’s responsibility to decide what’s in the best interest of public safety.
“We hope every one of our 16 host cities will be ready to fulfill all necessary requirements for a successful 2026 World Cup.”
The United States are set to host two of the world’s biggest sporting events in the coming years.
After next summer’s World Cup, Los Angeles will stage the Summer Olympics in 2028.
