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18th November 2025
04:20pm GMT
The President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Donald Trump will have the power to change the location of World Cup matches over safety concerns, as first reported in The Times.
On multiple occasions since taking office, the US President has alluded that Democrat-controlled host cities — Seattle, Boston and Los Angeles — may have their matches rescheduled due to concerns over fan safety.
There had been serious questions over whether Trump had the authority to make alterations to a schedule that has been in place for months, but it now appears that the strong relationship between Trump and Infantino has removed any limitations.
Trump and Infantino appeared at a joint press conference from the Oval Office in Washington DC where they presented a new fast-track visa application system for fans with tickets ahead of the World Cup next year.
When asked about the matches in Seattle, Trump said: “If we think there’s going to be the sign of any trouble, I would ask Gianni to move that to a different city […].
"So if we think there’s a problem in Seattle where you have a very very Liberal/communist mayor […] we’ll say ‘Gianni, can I say we will move?’ I don’t think you’re gonna have this problem. But we’re gonna move the event to someplace where it’s going to be appreciated and safe.”
Infantino agreed with the president, adding: "Yeah, I think safety and security is the number one priority for a successful World Cup.
“We are working together, we have a task force for this and we must ensure that all fans coming from abroad, being here they can experience a celebration of coming together of the sport and this goes only with 100 per cent safety.”
Despite Infantino's agreement with Trump on the issue, it still seems unlikely that a significant change will be made before the tournament commences next summer.
Alterations to the schedule would be a huge upheaval for ticket-owning fans who will have already bought accommodation for matches.
It is also unclear what kind of compensation would be offered by FIFA if a World Cup game was moved.
Back in October, Trump threatened to remove Boston’s status as World Cup host, before making remarks regarding the LA Olympic games.
“We can take them away,” Trump said.
Adding: “I love the people of Boston. I know the games are sold out, but your mayor [Democrat Michelle Wu] is not good. She’s intelligent … but she’s radical left.”
The president then went on to make the following unsubstantiated claim: “They’re taking over parts of Boston. We could get them back in about two seconds. All she has to do is call us.”
It is currently unclear which “they” Trump was referring to.
Also during the Oval office meeting, Trump went on to discuss the 2028 Olympics, saying: “If I thought LA was not going to be prepared properly, I would move it to another location if I had to.
Los Angeles is also led by the Democratic mayor Karen Bass, while the state of California is governed by one of Trump’s most vocal opponents, Gavin Newsom.
At the end of September, when attending a climate conference in New York, Newsom described the president as “an abomination” and “a fraud,” when discussing Trump’s position on global warming.
Speaking directly to his rival, Trump said Newsom “has got to get his act together, before adding: “On that one I’d probably have to get a different kind of a permission, but we would do that.”
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