Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
The US is scheduled to host 78 of the 104 fixtures of the World Cup in 2026.
FIFA has confirmed that the U.S. government holds the authority to assess and decide whether host cities are safe for next year’s World Cup, Sky News reports.
The statement comes after President Donald Trump suggested Boston could lose its hosting role amid his growing criticism of crime in Democrat-led cities. Trump also warned that California might face similar consequences regarding World Cup matches and the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Trump’s administration has argued that federal oversight is necessary to ensure public safety during major international events. The comments follow previous claims that rising crime rates and “poor local leadership” could jeopardize parts of the tournament.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, known to maintain a close relationship with Trump, has not challenged the president’s statements.
Security as a shared priority
In a statement to Sky News, FIFA underscored that safety remains the top priority for all of its global events. The organization also clarified that national and local governments ultimately bear the responsibility for ensuring security in host cities.
“They (the government) decide what is in the best interest for public safety,” the statement read, adding that FIFA hopes all 16 U.S. host cities will meet the necessary standards to stage the matches successfully.
While the organization refrained from commenting on any potential venue changes, the 2026 World Cup remains set to include 11 host cities across the United States. 78 of the tournament’s 104 matches is scheduled to be hosted in the US, including the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Canada and Mexico are slated to host the remaining fixtures..
Although Boston itself will not host games directly, nearby Foxborough, Massachusetts is scheduled to stage seven matches.
Trump threatens action against ‘unsafe’ cities
President Trump has stated that he would not hesitate to ask FIFA to relocate matches if he deemed certain areas unsafe. “If somebody is doing a bad job… I would call Gianni—the head of FIFA—and I would say, ‘Let’s move into another location,’ and they would do that,” he said, suggesting Infantino would comply “very easily.”
The two leaders’ partnership dates back to Trump’s first term, when the U.S. was awarded hosting rights for the upcoming World Cup. They have since appeared together at several international events and summits, including the recent signing of the Israel-Gaza peace deal.
Earlier this week, Trump escalated his criticism of Boston’s mayor, Michelle Wu, accusing her of allowing “radical left” policies to erode the city’s safety.
This article is made and published by Jens Asbjørn Bogen, which may have used AI in the preparation
