President Donald Trump threatened in September to move the 2026 World Cup games from cities like Philadelphia and San Francisco, saying crime and safety issues make them unfit to host.
Philadelphia is hosting World Cup games in 2026, and losing them could hurt the city’s image and take away the chance for the city to make money. Trump’s threat also brings up whether a president can change FIFA’s decisions.
Trump said at a White House press conference in September 2025 that cities including San Franscio, Seattle, and Philadelphia have too much crime, drugs, and homelessness to safely hold World Cup games. Some people believe Trump is doing this due to those cities being highly democratic areas.
Philly’s organizer answered by saying they are focused on safety and already making plans for the big crowds in 2026.
Experts also say FIFA, not the president, gets to decide where the games are played, which makes Trump’s threat hard to believe. Hosting the World Cup is expected to bring thousands of fans and millions of dollars to each city, so any changes would be a big deal.
Hosting the World Cup could bring Philly over $460 million, which is a huge loss if the games get taken away. Also, many fans have been looking forward to attending this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
