Donald Trump offers new information about possible changes to the location of matches in the 2026 World Cup

December 8, 2025 Oliver Obel

The Kennedy Center crowd had gathered for the tournament draw, but conversations after the event quickly shifted toward Trump’s comments on public safety. Speaking informally to reporters and later in media interviews, he argued that several American host cities could face scrutiny if crime patterns fail to improve.

According to Fox News, Trump singled out Los Angeles, Boston, and Seattle as places that, in his view, require close monitoring. He suggested that federal officials and FIFA might need to consider reassignment options if law-enforcement assessments indicate elevated risk.

While venue changes late in planning are rare for major tournaments, Trump framed the idea as a pragmatic contingency rather than a policy wish. “We’ll do it very safely,” he said, adding that the government should be notified early if difficulties arise so they can be addressed.

FIFA steps carefully around the issue

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who awarded Trump the Peace Prize just hours earlier, kept his response measured. He told attendees that security responsibilities are shared between FIFA and host governments and reaffirmed that “safety and security is the No. 1 priority for a successful World Cup.”

People familiar with tournament planning say FIFA has conducted several rounds of security evaluations in recent months, though the governing body has not indicated that venue changes are imminent. One official noted that assessments are routine ahead of any global event of this scale.

The United States will stage all knockout-round fixtures, culminating in the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey a detail that remained overshadowed as Trump’s comments circulated.

A larger backdrop: politics meets global sport

The question of crime especially in large metropolitan areas has been a recurring theme in U.S. political discourse. Trump’s remarks tap into those debates, and sports-security experts say the intersection of presidential politics and World Cup planning is likely to intensify as 2026 approaches.

Some city officials, when asked informally on Friday night, said they were surprised by the timing of Trump’s suggestion, noting that federal agencies already collaborate closely with local authorities on major-event security. Others downplayed the likelihood of any late-stage venue overhaul.

Tournament preparations continue despite uncertainty

The 2026 edition will be the largest World Cup staged to date, expanding to 48 teams and 104 matches across North America. Countries will learn their detailed match calendars during a FIFA broadcast on Saturday, a reveal that had been expected to dominate headlines until Trump’s comments began trending online.

The opening match on 11 June will see Mexico face South Africa in Mexico City, with the first U.S.-based game Paraguay versus the team coached by Mauricio Pochettino scheduled for SoFi Stadium the following night.

Organizers familiar with internal planning say FIFA still expects all current U.S. venues to remain in place, stressing that federal coordination on security has been ongoing for more than a year.

A new award with political overtones

Trump’s Peace Prize recognition the first since FIFA established the honor cited his involvement in diplomatic outreach and ceasefire negotiations, though the organization did not detail specific cases. The former president called the award “one of the great honours” of his life and claimed his efforts had “saved millions and millions of lives.”

For much of the evening, attendees focused on the highly produced ceremony: musical performances, dignitaries mingling in the lobby, and the spectacle of a World Cup draw staged in a major arts venue. Yet by the time guests began to filter out, it was Trump’s brief comments about safety not the trophy, nor the draw that defined the night’s conversations.

Sources: Fox News, FIFA statements, event attendee accounts