The 2026 World Cup begins in just over 8 months, and once again the President of the United States has created controversy around the tournament. On Thursday, when prompted by a question about World Cup cities that have higher than average crime rates, President Trump said he would consider moving World Cup games out of Democrat-led cities if he didn’t think they would be safe.

“It will be safe for the World Cup. If I think it isn’t safe, we’ll move it to 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,” Trump said. Now, there is a lot to unpack, starting with his focus on Chicago and Washington, DC. Neither Chicago nor DC are hosting matches during the World Cup next summer. Washington, DC will host the World Cup draw on December 5th at the Kennedy Center, and that decision was led by Trump himself, which only adds to the confusion surrounding his statements.

However, soundbites like this are done to rile up both his base and his haters, and the theme around it is rage bait. Let’s start with the obvious: no, he cannot unilaterally move World Cup matches from a city, whether it’s due to crime, natural disaster or disdain because they treated him poorly on a visit. The decision to move World Cup matches will rest only with FIFA.

Now, the concern lies around Trump’s close friendship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who has let Trump participate in the Club World Cup trophy presentation and has opened a FIFA office in Trump Tower in New York City. Infantino has allowed Trump unprecedented access and influence that FIFA would normally say is grounds for a federation to be suspended. Whether Infantino would even entertain moving matches from the host venues that have been in full preparations since June 2022, when the final venue list was announced, is unclear, and the FIFA council would likely have to agree. But, with host cities already pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into preparations for the World Cup, they will not sit quietly if the president or FIFA tried to take away some or all of their matches.

What’s clear is this: there are a ton of things that the United States specifically needs to get under control, and one of those is reacting as if everything that is said or stated from the president about the 2026 World Cup is canon. He can say all he wants that he will take matches from “blue” cities and give them to red ones, but of the 33 cities that bid to be a host city in the 2026 World Cup, only 3 are run by independent or “red” mayors, with Miami’s current mayor term limited and exiting office when Miami holds its election in just over a month.

FIFA has stadium requirements, and the main cities that could host multiple World Cup matches on short notice all meet that requirement. There’s also the match schedule, which would have to be drastically altered and then given to TV (especially Fox, who have the American English TV rights to the tournament) to set up the match times. Teams would have to alter their practice and travel logistics if cities were changed, including the USMNT, who have their group stage matches in LA and Seattle. Lawsuits would rain down if anything was drastically changed just because the President doesn’t like the city for whatever reason he sticks with on a particular morning.

What FIFA needs to do is to nip this in the bud. Real leadership should present itself quickly to make this a tournament – to borrow from the Gettysburg Address – of the people, by the people, and for the people. Lower ticket prices are a must and making the ticket process one where everyone has a chance to see a World Cup match near them is vital to build on the boost in interest this World Cup provides. They should be working with their named sponsors for the tournament to lower the cost of travel and accommodations for fans. They should be working with the host cities to ensure they’re forming true legacy projects that will sustain long after the last ball is kicked in this tournament. And, maybe above all, they should be working day and night to ensure that fans and players from around the world are able to smoothly enter the United States (and Canada and Mexico) without fear of reprisal to follow and support their teams and to make this the best World Cup ever.

To do that, FIFA has to step up and quell the rage. It starts at the top. Many fans are resigned to the fact that this World Cup in their backyard isn’t for them, and that isn’t great for future interest in the sport or future World Cups. There may only be 8 months left, but that’s still time to focus on the right things and not billowing the fires of rage bait through the president’s words.