World Cup matches may be relocated from ’’dangerous’’ US cities

US President Donald Trump is considering relocating the 2026 World Cup matches to other cities due to security concerns. He announced this to journalists in the Oval Office.

In the summer of 2026, the World Cup with 48 teams will be hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, with the majority of matches taking place in the US. According to the plan, 78 out of 104 games, including the playoff stages, will be held in 11 US cities. The selection of host cities and the organization of the tournament fall under FIFA’s authority. Therefore, it remains unclear whether Trump has the power to move the matches. However, he works closely with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and serves as the head of the World Cup working group.

’’The games will be safe. If we determine they are not, we will move them to another city,’’ Trump told journalists.

When asked about the matches scheduled to take place in Seattle and San Francisco, cities governed by Democrats, Trump also mentioned Los Angeles. The city is set to host the 2028 Olympic Games and eight World Cup matches.

’’If any of the cities designated for the World Cup or the Olympics present security concerns, we will not allow it and will move the games elsewhere,’’ Trump said.

The US leader has made the fight against crime a central part of his political agenda. Recently, he deployed the National Guard and federal troops to Washington despite statistics showing that crime levels sharply declined in 2023. The President also announced plans to send forces to Memphis and Chicago. In June of this year, he dispatched 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles to contain unrest during raids against undocumented migrants.

World Cup matches will be held in 11 US cities: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle. The tournament will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

It was previously reported that FIFA had unveiled the mascots for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Specifically, Clutch (an eagle), Zayu (a tiger), and Maple (a deer) symbolize the three host nations of the tournament: the eagle represents the US, the tiger represents Mexico, and the deer represents Canada.