Relocating World Cup matches unlikely despite Trump rhetoric, current and former officials say

NEW YORK: Senior figures behind the 2026 World Cup dismissed concerns that US president Donald Trump could move matches from cities he does not deem “safe.”
Republican president Trump said last month that he would consider moving games from Democrat-controlled San Francisco and Seattle if they did not cooperate with his immigration and crime initiatives.
He raised the issue again this week, this time targeting Boston and its Democratic Mayor Michelle Wu, suggesting he could appeal directly to FIFA boss Gianni Infantino.
John Kristick, who led Canada, Mexico and the United States’ successful bid to jointly host the 2026 finals, emphasized that planning has been underway for nearly a decade and remains unaffected by political rhetoric.
“From what I’m seeing, there’s been zero distraction in terms of the preparedness,” Kristick, co-head of global events at Playfly Sports Consulting, told Reuters.
“Tickets are already being sold. Hospitality packages have been sold for almost a year now.”
Over one million World Cup tickets have been purchased so far, FIFA said on Thursday, with fans from 212 countries and territories snapping up seats.
The United States account for 11 of the 16 host cities for the largest-ever edition of the tournament, with 48 teams and 104 matches in the expanded tournament.
The quadrennial soccer showcase is returning to the United States for the first time since 1994, when the tournament sparked a new era for the sport in a country long ambivalent to it.
Earlier this year, Miami World Cup
officials
moved to allay fears that the United States’ stricter
immigration
stance under Trump could deter overseas fans that it hopes to attract.
FIFA previously said that the global governing body for soccer has the final say on whether to move the 2026 World Cup but this week noted: “Safety and security are obviously the governments’ responsibility.
“They decide what is in the best interest for public safety,” FIFA added.
“We hope every one of our 16 host cities will be ready to successfully host and fulfil all necessary requirements.”
Ricardo Trade, CEO of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Local Organizing Committee, said the abundance of good stadiums in the United States would make the possibility of relocating games “feasible,” so long as it does not happen after the Dec. 5 draw.
“In a country like the United States, where every state has large, ready-to-use stadiums, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be possible,” said Trade, who also served as CEO of the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 in the US
New York and New Jersey, responsible for eight games, including the final, have maintained their focus, said NYNJ Host Committee CEO Alex Lasry, with daily fan festivals planned across the country’s biggest metropolitan region.
“We’ve spoken to FIFA, we’re working with the White House Task Force, I don’t think there’s any worry about the games being moved,” said Lasry.
“I have no concern, but if you know, anyone wants to move games, from Chicago to here or from anywhere to here, we’re more than excited to have more games.”

Juve are fifth in the standings on 19 points from 11 games, two points behind Inter Milan
Conceicao also had a shot from a wide angle go narrowly the wrong side of the upright

TURIN, Italy: Juventus largely dominated but were unable to get the better of neighbors Torino in a 0-0 home draw on Saturday, dealing a blow to Luciano Spalletti’s side’s hopes of gaining ground in the Serie A title race.
The hosts had won their last two Serie A games since sacking manager Igor Tudor, one of those victories coming in Spalletti’s first game in charge, but a largely toothless derby display left the crowd frustrated.
Juve are fifth in the standings on 19 points from 11 games, two points behind Inter Milan, AC Milan and AS Roma, who all have a match in hand, with leaders Napoli on 22 points ahead of Sunday’s game at Bologna. Torino are in 11th place on 14 points.
The opening half may have been mostly one-way traffic but Juventus struggled to create any real opportunities against their neighbors, any half-chances that came their way inspired by Francisco Conceicao.
The Portuguese winger played a decent ball into Dusan Vlahovic just outside the six-yard area but Torino defender Guillermo Maripan did well to get ahead of the Serbian striker to clear the danger.
Conceicao also had a shot from a wide angle go narrowly the wrong side of the upright. If Conceicao provided a spark on the right side, Kenan Yildiz on the left is still struggling to live up to the number 10 jersey.
Yildiz was often guilty of losing possession, and on the rare occasion he managed to go past his marker, his final ball let him down.
Spalletti cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines, pacing his technical area and only standing still to take notes. But his halftime team talk did little to alter proceedings, if anything Torino grew in confidence and began to threaten.
The visitors, who had not beaten Juventus in their last 20 league meetings, never really looked like changing that statistic, but substitute Che Adams forced Michele Di Gregorio into a save with a powerful strike.
Spalletti changed things up, Edon Zhegrova and Jonathan David coming on, with Conceicao and Vlahovic, somewhat surprisingly, replaced.
Zhegrova whipped in a cross for Weston McKennie but keeper Alberto Paleari parried away the header, and try as Juventus might, a goal proved elusive.

Relocating World Cup matches unlikely despite Trump rhetoric, current and former officials say