FIFA has confirmed that the U.S. government holds ultimate authority over the safety evaluations of World Cup host cities.
This announcement follows comments from U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested that FIFA President Gianni Infantino would be willing to relocate matches for the 2026 World Cup if requested.
Trump also mentioned that he might consider moving the 2028 Olympic Games away from Los Angeles if he perceives the city as unsafe.
The president has previously indicated potential relocations of World Cup matches from cities he described as “dangerous,” specifically mentioning Seattle and San Francisco.
“Safety and security are our foremost priorities at all FIFA events around the globe,” remarked a FIFA spokesperson. “Ultimately, it is the responsibility of governments to determine what measures are in the best interest of public safety.”
“We trust that all 16 of our host cities will be adequately prepared to host successfully and meet the required standards.”
On Thursday, Trump referenced recent “street takeovers” in Boston, claiming FIFA would relocate matches for the upcoming finals if he deemed necessary.
“If I perceive that someone is not doing their job and the conditions are unsafe, I would reach out to Gianni, the phenomenal head of FIFA, and say, ‘let’s move it to another location,'” he told reporters on Tuesday.
“He would do that. Though he wouldn’t quite prefer it, he would comply with the request. This is indeed the right moment to consider it.”
“The same applies to the Olympics. If I suspected that LA wouldn’t be adequately prepared, I would seek to shift the events elsewhere. I might need to acquire a different level of permission for that, but we would manage it.”
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FIFA President Infantino has formed a strong rapport with Trump, having most recently attended a Middle East peace summit with him in Egypt earlier this week.
In response to Trump’s initial threat to shift matches, FIFA Vice-President Victor Montagliani asserted, “FIFA is the decision-making authority.” He added at Leaders Week London: “With all due respect to current leaders, football transcends them and will persist beyond their administrations, slogans, and efforts.”
FIFA reportedly has no concerns about the safety of any of the 16 host cities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
A representative from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) responded to Trump’s remarks by stating: “The LA28 Olympic Games have full backing from the President of the United States, the Governor of California, and the Mayor of Los Angeles. All of them are providing exceptional assistance in preparations for these Games. With three years to go, we are confident that LA28 will be a remarkable Olympic event.”