FIFA Vice President Claps Back at Trump Over Threat to ‘Relocate’ Matches From ‘Dangerous’ Cities
Donald Trump has once again stirred controversy, this time over international football. The former U.S. President suggested that he could influence where FIFA matches and even Olympic events are held, depending on how “safe” he personally thinks certain cities are. His comments, however, were swiftly dismissed by FIFA officials, who made it clear that Trump has no control over such matters.
When asked about the World Cup games scheduled to take place in Seattle and San Francisco, Trump claimed that if he considered those cities unsafe, he would “move the matches to a different city.” Both Seattle and San Francisco are in Democratic strongholds, and a total of six matches are set to be hosted there. Trump went further, adding Los Angeles to the list of places he described as risky. Los Angeles, another Democratic-run city, is due to host eight matches. He said that if his administration deemed a city “even a little bit dangerous,” then the matches would be relocated.
Trump did not stop at the World Cup. He also spoke about the 2028 Olympics, scheduled to take place in Los Angeles, suggesting that the same rules would apply. “Because they’re playing in so many cities, we won’t allow it to go. We’ll move it around a little bit,” Trump, now 79 years old, said while circling back to the FIFA matches. He also attacked local leadership, describing Seattle and San Francisco as being “run by radical left lunatics who don’t know what they’re doing.”
The remarks quickly raised questions about whether Trump had misunderstood the extent of his powers. FIFA Vice-President Victor Montagliani addressed the situation directly, stating that Trump has no role in scheduling or relocating the World Cup. Speaking at Leaders Week London at the Allianz Stadium, Montagliani shut down the speculation by saying, “It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction, FIFA makes those decisions.”
Montagliani went on to highlight that football is far larger than politics or partisan disputes. “With all due respect to current world leaders, football is bigger than them and football will survive their regime and their government and their slogans,” he said. He also pointed out that the World Cup is an international event that transcends borders, adding, “The sport is bigger than any country.”
The tournament is not confined to the cities Trump mentioned. Matches will also take place in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, New York/New Jersey, and Philadelphia, ensuring a wide spread of venues across the United States.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has not yet commented on Trump’s claims, but the message from FIFA leadership is clear: decisions about the World Cup rest solely with FIFA, not with politicians. The championship, which will involve 48 teams, is set to conclude with the grand final on July 19.
