US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday from the Oval Office that he would consider relocating 2026 FIFA World Cup matches from US host cities he deems as security risks, despite expecting the tournament to be safe overall.The United States is set to co-host the 2026 World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada, with the US hosting the majority of matches in the expanded 48-team tournament.Several Democratic-leaning cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle are among the designated US host venues.“It will be safe for the World Cup,” Trump told reporters. “If I think it isn’t safe, we’ll move it into a different city.”“It’s actually a very fair question,” Trump continued. “If I think it’s not safe, we’re going to move it out of that city…,” he said, before discussing crime statistics in Chicago, which is not a World Cup host city.San Francisco and Seattle are each scheduled to host six matches, while Los Angeles will host eight games during the tournament.“So no, if any city we think is going to be even a little bit dangerous for the World Cup, or for the Olympics … but for the World Cup in particular, because they’re playing in so many cities, we won’t allow it to go, we’ll move it around a little bit,” Trump added, making reference to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.Trump’s administration has previously deployed national guard troops to Democratic-governed cities this year, despite opposition from local and state leaders.Earlier this year, Trump appointed himself chairman of a White House task force for the World Cup, which is overseen by FIFA.Trump, who maintains a close relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, has promised visiting fans can expect a “seamless” experience.Infantino has expressed “full and entire” confidence in the Trump administration’s ability to help deliver a successful tournament.
