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Donald Trump Can’t Touch FIFA’s 2026 World Cup Plans Despite His Bold Threats

Originally posted on Total Apex Sports | By Fahad Hamid | Last updated Oct 2, 2025 6:43 AM ET

Well, well, well. Looks like someone forgot to tell Trump that he’s not the king of soccer. FIFA’s vice-president Victor Montagliani just delivered a reality check that would make even the most seasoned diplomat wince, essentially telling the former and current president to stay in his lane when it comes to the 2026 World Cup.

FIFA Puts Trump in His Place Over World Cup Authority

During a conference at Leaders Week London, Montagliani didn’t mince words when addressing Trump’s recent comments about potentially moving World Cup matches from cities he deems “dangerous.” The Canadian official, who also serves as CONCACAF president, made it crystal clear: “It’s FIFA‘s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction, FIFA makes those decisions.”

Ouch. That’s got to sting for someone who’s used to calling all the shots.

But here’s where it gets really interesting – Montagliani went full savage mode, adding: “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.” Translation: Presidents come and go, but soccer is eternal, buddy.

Trump’s Empty Threats Meet Soccer Reality

Let’s be real here. Trump’s comments about moving matches from San Francisco and Seattle because they’re “run by radical left lunatics” sound more like campaign rhetoric than actual policy. The guy literally said he’d relocate games if cities seemed “even a little bit dangerous for the World Cup.”

Someone should probably remind him that FIFA has been organizing World Cups in all sorts of places for decades, and they’re pretty good at this whole security thing.

The 2026 World Cup is set to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with the majority of the 104 games taking place across 11 American cities. Seattle and San Francisco are each slated to host six games, while Los Angeles gets eight fixtures. That’s a lot of money and international prestige that Trump apparently thinks he can just shuffle around like a deck of cards.

Why Trump’s World Cup Intervention Won’t Work

Here’s the thing that’s genuinely frustrating about this whole situation – FIFA has actual contracts and agreements in place with these host cities. These aren’t casual handshake deals that can be changed on a presidential whim. The organization has invested years of planning, millions of dollars, and countless hours of coordination to make this tournament happen.

Trump’s administration has been busy deploying the National Guard in various cities, including Los Angeles, supposedly to deal with crime and immigration raids. But deploying troops doesn’t automatically make you the boss of international sporting events. That’s not how any of this works.

The president seems to think he can treat the World Cup like one of his rallies – move it around whenever he feels like it based on his personal opinions about local politics. But FIFA isn’t exactly known for bending to political pressure, especially when there’s serious money involved.

The Bigger Picture Behind FIFA’s Pushback

What makes this whole scenario even more absurd is that Trump has been inserting himself into World Cup business for months now. Back in March, he actually claimed that the political tensions between the U.S. and its co-hosts Canada and Mexico would be “good” for the tournament. Because nothing says successful international cooperation like trade wars, right?

Then in May, he suggested Russia should be allowed to participate as an “incentive” to end the war in Ukraine. Never mind that FIFA and UEFA banned Russia from competitions after they, you know, invaded a sovereign nation.

And who could forget his awkward photo op with Chelsea after they won the Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium? The same stadium that’s supposed to host the World Cup final, by the way.

What This Means for Soccer Fan

For those of us who actually care about the beautiful game, Montagliani’s firm response is reassuring. FIFA might have its problems (and boy, does it have problems), but at least they understand that soccer transcends petty political squabbles.

The 2026 World Cup represents a massive opportunity for North American soccer. It’s the first time the tournament will feature 48 teams, and it’s expected to break attendance records. The last thing fans need is some political theater disrupting what should be a celebration of the world’s most popular sport.

The Reality Check FIFA Delivered

At the end of the day, FIFA’s message to Trump is pretty simple: You might be president, but you’re not the president of soccer. The organization has dealt with dictators, corrupt officials, and all manner of political interference over the years. One overly ambitious politician isn’t going to derail their plans now.

Montagliani’s comments represent more than just administrative pushback – they’re a reminder that some things are bigger than politics. The World Cup belongs to the world, not to whatever politician happens to be in office at the time.

So while Trump can tweet, threaten, and posture all he wants, FIFA holds the cards when it comes to the 2026 World Cup. And based on their latest response, they’re not afraid to play them.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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