Did the International Federation of Football (FIFA) move the World Cup 2026 from the United States because of President Trump's strict immigration policies? No, this is not true: As of June 4, 2025, FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, have not announced any changes to the hosting arrangement for the tournament, which will be held for the first time in three different countries, Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Infantino stated that the US immigration stance during the Cup is not different from that of other countries and it is "standard."
The claim appeared on a TikTok video (archived here) on June 3, 2025. The screen caption read:
FIFA DECIDED THAT THE WORLD CUP WOULD NOT BE HELD IN THE UNITED STATES
#donaldtrump #worldcup #unitedstates
Users on social media only saw this title, description and thumbnail:
Ibrahimzeta on TikTok
#donaldtrump #worldcup #unitedstates
This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:
(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Wed Jun 4 22:16:23 2025 UTC)
The one-minute video does not include links to official websites, statements, or interviews to support the claims. The narration said:
FIFA has decided that the 2026 World Cup will not be held in the United States. FIFA made the decision to remove the United States from hosting the tournament, and the responsibility falls squarely on President Trump. The organization faces a major logistical challenge after thousands of players, coaches, and fans declared they will not travel to the country. This is due to Trump's strict immigration policies generating fear, tension, and an international backlash. Athletes and delegation members fear being detained or deported even with valid visas.
Using the search string "FIFA AND removed the United States AND hosting the World Cup 2026" on Google, Lead Stories couldn't find any reports or posts from reputable sources backing up the claims in the TikTok video. Furthermore, a review of FIFA's social media accounts (archived here), its official website (archived here), and Gianni Infantino's Instagram account (archived here) showed no statements about canceling or relocating games from the US to other host countries.
According to FIFA, for the first time in history, the tournament will be hosted by three countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The 16 cities hosting matches were announced on June 16, 2022 (archived here), and the match schedule on February 4, 2024, with the New York-New Jersey Stadium hosting the final and Azteca Stadium in Mexico City hosting the opening match. On March 1, 2025, the FIFA Council made a unanimous decision to change the group stage format for the 2026 World Cup. The new format will have 12 groups of four teams instead of 16 groups of three. The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-place finishers will move on to the round of 32. Now, the contenders will play eight matches from the group stage to the final, up from seven matches previously.
On March 7, 2025, Infantino met with President Trump at the White House (archived here) to express his gratitude for the creation of the Task Force. He highlighted the United States' commitment to hosting the 2025 Club World Cup and the 2026 World Cup. During the meeting, Trump signed an executive order establishing the Task Force, which he will head to oversee coordination among federal agencies for the tournament.
Human Rights Concerns
Human Rights Watch has raised concerns about human rights abuses in the U.S. In a letter dated May 5, 2025 (archived here), its director, Minky Worden, warned Infantino to be prepared to reconsider the U.S. hosting the event. Worden cited Trump administration policies that undermine the World Cup's inclusive spirit and FIFA's non-discrimination policies:
FIFA should publicly acknowledge the threat US immigration policies pose to the tournament's integrity and urge the US government to ensure that all qualified teams, support staff, media, and fans will have equal access to enter the US regardless of nationality, religion, or opinion. FIFA should also establish clear benchmarks and timelines for US immigration policy changes needed to ensure respect for the rights of players, fans, and other participants in the World Cup and be prepared to reconsider the hosting decision if such guarantees cannot be secured.
The organization requested a response by May 19, 2025, but no response had been published at the time of writing this story. Lead Stories contacted FIFA to confirm if there is a possible change in the U.S. as a host of the Cup, and we will update this information accordingly once we receive a response.
As of June 4, 2025, FIFA has not announced any changes to the hosts of the 2026 World Cup. As per media reports (archived here), Infantino commended Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance during a FIFA Council meeting on May 9, 2025, for their dedication to the tournament and enthusiasm for welcoming international fans. He also noted that the Trump administration's policy of requiring visitors to leave after their visas expire is a standard practice globally.
Travel ban and visa backlogs
One concern for event attendees is the potential travel restrictions being considered by the Trump administration, as reported in the media (archived here). These restrictions could affect the entry of citizens from up to 43 countries into the United States. Additionally, visa processing backlogs are a challenge, with six countries-Canada, Colombia, Honduras, India, Turkey, and the UAE--having at least one U.S. diplomatic post with visa appointment wait times that exceed the start of the first game of the Cup in the United States.
U.S. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) led a bipartisan letter (archived here), signed by 55 lawmakers, to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio seeking clarification on the State Department's plans to expedite and secure visa processing for the anticipated influx of visitors coming to the U.S. for the Cup, the 2028 Olympic Games, and other major international sporting events. Rubio informed lawmakers during a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing that the Trump administration is considering ways to speed up visa processing to meet this demand.
