FIFA President Gianni Infantino met with former US President Donald Trump to discuss the upcoming 2026 World Cup, presenting him with a personalized jersey during their talks.
According to a report from SPORTbible, US President Donald Trump made a controversial public announcement alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the Oval Office on Monday, sparking chaos regarding the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
The tournament, which is just six months away, will be the 23rd edition and the first-ever expanded 48-team competition, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and 16 cities in the United States, including Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, and Kansas City.
However, President Trump threw a curveball into the mix, warning host cities under Democratic control, including Boston, Los Angeles, and Seattle, that he will call upon Infantino to switch venues if he deems there is a “problem” with security.
During the “extraordinary conference,” Trump was specifically asked about the new mayor-elect of Seattle, Katie Wilson, who is described as a democratic socialist.
Trump suggested that World Cup games set to be hosted in Seattle could be moved elsewhere if crime and safety become an issue.
“If we think there’s going to be a sign of any trouble, I would ask Gianni (Infantino) to move that (games) to a different city,” Trump stated. He elaborated on the Seattle situation:
“If we think there’s a problem in Seattle, where we have a very, very liberal-slash-communist mayor, certainly beyond just liberal…. I watched her over the weekend… wow, that’s another beauty we got there.
“But if we think there’s gonna be another problem, we’re gonna move this event to another place where it’s going to be appreciated and safe.”
Infantino was left ‘scrambling’ by the sudden turn in questioning, according to News Au, but the FIFA president agreed that World Cup matches could still be moved on safety grounds at Trump’s request.
Infantino emphasized the importance of safety, saying: “Safety and security are the No. 1 priority for a successful World Cup.”
He added that ticket sales are record-breaking, with “Almost two million sold already out of two million,” indicating that “people, they know, they will be coming here and they will experience a safe and secure World Cup.”
Infantino confirmed that a Task Force is in place and stressed: “We have a Task Force for this and we must ensure that all fans coming from abroad here can experience a celebration of coming together, of the sport, and this goes on with 100 per cent safety.”
The report notes that dropping a host city at this stage would prove a costly decision for fans and teams who have already made plans regarding travel and accommodation.