FIFA hopes that all 16 host cities will be ready to host the 2026 World Cup matches in the United States, Mexico and Canada, a FIFA spokesman told AFP on Wednesday.
The spokesman added: “Safety and security are undoubtedly the responsibility of governments who decide what is in the interest of public safety.”
This comment came after US President Donald Trump said that the 2026 World Cup matches scheduled for the United States could be broadcast if there was a “security problem.”
On Tuesday, Trump confirmed to reporters during a meeting with his Argentine counterpart Javier Mele in Washington, targeting democratic municipalities and threatening to deprive them of sports competitions: “If one of them performs poorly, and I think there is a security problem, I will call Gianni (Infantino), the president of FIFA, who is a wonderful person, and say: Let’s move it somewhere else. And he will do it.”
Trump was referring to the president of the International Federation, who is close to him and has hosted several times in the White House since his return to power.
When asked specifically about the city of Boston, Trump added that he “would do that very easily.”
FIFA commented cautiously: “We hope that each of our 16 host cities will be ready to successfully host the events, and will meet all the necessary conditions for doing so,” including host cities in Canada and Mexico, as well as cities under Republican control in the United States.
Trump met with Infantino in Egypt on Monday, where the FIFA president joined leaders from around the world to discuss the peace process in Gaza.
To reduce crime, Trump deployed the National Guard in several cities run by his Democratic opponents, ignoring their refusal to do so.
None of the targeted cities, such as Chicago, witnessed widespread riots or outbursts of uncontrolled violence.
Last week, organizers moved an international friendly match between Argentina and Puerto Rico from Chicago, where it was originally scheduled to be played, to Florida.
Among major Democratic cities, Boston is scheduled to host 7 World Cup matches, San Francisco and Seattle 6 matches, and Los Angeles 8 matches.
The United States is co-hosting the tournament, which includes 48 teams for the first time, with Mexico and Canada, with 11 American cities hosting the matches, namely Seattle, San Francisco, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Miami, New York, and Philadelphia.
