October 03, (THEWILL) — FIFA vice president, Victor Montagliani, has firmly rejected recent comments by United States President, Donald Trump, suggesting he holds authority to relocate 2026 World Cup matches from certain host cities. Trump stated last week that he would move matches out of any city he deemed unsafe, but Montagliani clarified on Wednesday that such decisions fall exclusively under FIFA’s control. Speaking at a sports business conference in London, the CONCACAF president stressed that the tournament operates under FIFA’s jurisdiction, not governmental mandate.
Montagliani went further to emphasise football’s enduring importance beyond individual political figures. He stated that the sport remains larger than any world leader, government or political slogan, and will continue long after current regimes have ended. The Canadian official’s comments represent a direct challenge to Trump’s assertion of influence over the competition, which is scheduled to take place across 16 cities in the US, Mexico and Canada starting next summer.
The 2026 World Cup will mark the first time since 1994 that North America hosts the tournament, with 11 American cities including Seattle and San Francisco among the designated venues. All host cities have existing contracts with FIFA for the event, meaning any attempt to alter locations could trigger significant legal, financial and logistical problems. With the tournament just nine months away, such changes would present enormous practical difficulties. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has not yet publicly addressed Trump’s statements.
The United States men’s national team, managed by Mauricio Pochettino, is set to begin their World Cup campaign at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles before travelling to Seattle’s Lumen Field for their second group stage fixture. The political dimension has intensified because Seattle numbers among several American cities that have opposed Trump’s immigration and crime policies. The potential removal of Seattle from the hosting roster could add substantial off-field pressure to what is already a crucial match for the home nation.
The World Cup draw is scheduled for December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. It remains uncertain how any relocation of matches might proceed operationally or legally, given the binding agreements between FIFA and the host cities. Montagliani’s robust defence of FIFA’s autonomy signals that football’s governing body will resist political interference in tournament planning, regardless of pressure from national leaders.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
