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The White House is discussing potential changes to World Cup 2026 venue arrangements with FIFA, targeting matches scheduled in Democratic-controlled cities over crime concerns, according to President Donald Trump's chief of protocol.
Monica Crowley told Fox Business on Friday that Trump has engaged directly with the international football federation about relocating games from what she termed "blue cities," referencing the color traditionally associated with the Democratic Party. The president's focus centers on crime rates in those municipalities, Crowley said.
"President Trump is very concerned about some of these blue cities, high crime rates, and he's talking to FIFA," Crowley said during the television interview. She emphasized that no final decisions have been reached but stated the administration wants to ensure safety for international visitors and American spectators attending the tournament.
The potential venue changes would affect the overwhelming majority of American host cities for the tournament. Of the 11 US metropolitan areas selected to host matches, nine are governed by Democratic mayors or local leadership: Atlanta, Boston, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Seattle, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Only Dallas and Miami have Republican-led governments.
The tournament will also feature matches in Canada and Mexico as part of the first tri-national World Cup in the competition's history. The 2026 World Cup will be the first edition expanded to 48 teams, up from the traditional 32-team format.
Trump has consistently characterized Democratic-led cities as crime hotspots throughout his political career, assertions he has maintained regardless of official crime statistics that often show more nuanced patterns. Federal data from the FBI and other law enforcement agencies have repeatedly shown that crime rates vary significantly across cities of different political affiliations, with no consistent correlation to party leadership.
The administration has previously invoked public safety concerns in Democratic-run municipalities to justify federal military deployments to urban areas. Those deployments have encountered repeated legal obstacles, with state and local officials challenging the moves in court.
Crowley revealed that over 2 million tickets for the World Cup have already been sold to fans worldwide. The tournament, scheduled for June and July 2026, represents the first time the United States will host World Cup matches since 1994, when the US hosted the entire tournament.
FIFA has not publicly commented on any discussions with the Trump administration regarding venue changes. The organization typically works closely with host nations on security planning but maintains final authority over tournament logistics and venue selections under its hosting agreements.
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