As a lifer who plans vacations around fixture lists, this one made my jaw drop. President Donald Trump just warned he could yank 2026 World Cup matches from host cities he calls “dangerous,” singling out Seattle and San Francisco.
That’s wild because both are slated for six matches each Lumen Field in Seattle and Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara prime venues built for the world’s game.
He even name-checked Chicago (not a host) while talking about making cities “safe.” Oh, and the World Cup draw? Set for 5 December in Washington, D.C. Buckle up.
If you love this sport, you know what’s at stake: travel plans millions of fans have been crafting for months, local fan parks ready to explode into color, and tactical matchups that hinge on stadium surfaces, microclimates, and crowd energy.
Shift those matches, and you’re not just moving dates on a calendar you’re rewriting the tournament’s geography, supporter culture, and possibly competitive balance.
Imagine a high-press side built for Seattle’s slick surface suddenly playing somewhere else. Imagine the tifos, the march to the match, the supporter traditions… evaporating. Football deserves better than uncertainty this late in the cycle.
Bottom line: the 2026 World Cup (co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico) should be about line-breaking passes, not last-minute venue politics. Keep the focus on the pitch, protect the fan experience, and let these soccer-mad cities show the world how it’s done.
