FIFA insist World Cup match locations will not be moved next year following remarks from President Donald Trump.
The White House chief had previously threatened to move World Cup games from cities deemed too “dangerous” amid his crackdown on violent crime.
Fifa insist President Donald Trump will not be able to change the venues for World Cup matches[/caption]
President Trump has sent the National Guard to crack down on crime in several Democrat-led areas.
And he had a robust response when asked whether host cities like Seattle and San Francisco, whose mayors have clashed with him over policies, would be allowed to hold matches.
Trump said: “That’s an interesting question, but we’re going to make sure they’re safe.
“They’re run by radical left lunatics who don’t know what they’re doing.”
But now, Trump’s plans to move matches have been shot down by Fifa.
Speaking at Leaders Week London, vice-president Victor Montagliani insisted his organisation has all the power when it comes to deciding World Cup venues.
That’s despite President Trump enjoying a strong friendship with his boss, Fifa president Gianni Infantino.
Montagliani said: “It’s Fifa’s tournament, Fifa’s jurisdiction, Fifa makes those decisions.
“With all due respect to current world leaders, football is bigger than them.
“Football will survive their regime and their government and their slogans.”
Seattle and San Francisco are just two host cities in the US set to welcome fans for matches.
Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, LA, Kansas City, Miami, New York and Philadelphia will also hold games next summer.
Canada and Mexico are also set to joint-host the tournament with the US.
President Trump’s administration has already allocated hundreds of millions for security following last summer’s Club World Cup.
He said: “As you probably know, we (the National Guard) are going into Memphis and we’re going into some other cities.
“Very soon we’re going into Chicago. It will be safe for the World Cup. If I think it isn’t safe, we’ll move into a different city, absolutely. It’s actually a very fair question.
“If I think it’s not safe, we’re going to move it out of that city.
“So if any city we think is going to be even a little bit dangerous for the World Cup, or for the (2028) Olympics, you know where they have Olympic overthrow right, but for the World Cup in particular, because they’re playing in so many cities, we won’t allow it.
“We’ll move it around a little bit. But I hope that’s not going to happen.”
