Fifa vice-president Victor Montagliani has firmly rejected any suggestion that US President Donald Trump could unilaterally move matches from designated World Cup cities in 2026. Speaking at Leaders Week London, Montagliani emphasised that only Fifa has the authority to make such decisions, not political leaders.
Trump had earlier indicated he would relocate games from cities he deemed unsafe, specifically singling out San Francisco and Seattle as being "run by radical left lunatics." Montagliani, a Canadian who also serves as Concacaf president, countered: "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."
The 2026 tournament is set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Montagliani has frequently navigated diplomatic issues since the start of Trump's second term, including the ongoing debate over Israel's participation in international football. He deferred that matter to Uefa, saying: "It’s their member, they have to deal with it."
On the expansion of Fifa competitions, Montagliani expressed support for a larger Club World Cup but opposed a 64-team World Cup for the 2030 centennial. He noted opposition from Uefa and Asia, adding: "I don’t see the argument for 64 teams." He called for a review of team numbers and caps from this year's Club World Cup, which he described as a "massive success."
