Donald Trump Issues New 2026 World Cup Warning After Ghana’s Qualification
- Donald Trump has sparked controversy by threatening to move some 2026 World Cup games
- FIFA has previously stressed that the US President has no authority to relocate any matches
- Nine African representatives, including Ghana, were confirmed for next year’s global showpiece
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US President Donald Trump has once again caused a stir in global football, warning that he might push for the relocation of matches from certain American cities he considers unsafe.
Speaking during a public event, Trump declared that he could personally appeal to FIFA President Gianni Infantino to change host venues if security conditions were not up to his standards.
Source: Getty Images
Trump issues new 2026 World Cup threat
His comments came just hours after Ghana’s qualification sparked celebrations across the country.
FIFA officials, however, swiftly dismissed the claim.
The football body's Vice President, Victor Montagliani, clarified that all venue decisions rest exclusively with football’s governing body and cannot be influenced by political leaders.
However, Trump, known for doubling down, was not ready to back down.
“If I feel there are unsafe conditions, I would call Gianni, the head of FIFA, who’s phenomenal, and I would say, ‘let’s move it to another location’, and he would do that. He wouldn’t love to do it, but he’d do it very easily,” Trump insisted.
The remarks came at a delicate time, setting a tense backdrop to Ghana’s football triumph.
For many fans, it was a reminder that the World Cup - though a sporting celebration - is never entirely free from political friction.
Why Trump wants action taken against Boston
The 79-year-old president later sharpened his rhetoric, targeting Boston, one of the 11 American host cities for the 2026 tournament.
During an Oval Office meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei, he accused Boston Mayor Michelle Wu of being 'not good' and 'radical left'.
“We can take them away. I love the people of Boston. I know the games are sold out, but your mayor is not good. She’s intelligent, but she’s radical left,” he said, as quoted by The New York Times.
His comments came in the wake of violent pro-Palestine protests that escalated into clashes with police in the city.
The unrest has reignited debate about safety and security ahead of the global tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Trump, who recently visited Israel and Egypt to help lay the groundwork for a proposed peace framework in Gaza, linked his remarks to concerns over stability in host cities.
Meanwhile, in Africa, the first phase of the 2026 World Cup qualification concluded dramatically on Tuesday evening (October 14).
Source: Twitter
Ghana among Africa's 2026 World Cup representatives
After the final round of the CAF qualifiers, nine teams confirmed their places at the tournament: Ivory Coast, Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, South Africa, Cape Verde, and Ghana.
Meanwhile, as the top runners-up in their respective groups, according to FIFA, Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon, and DR Congo will compete in a high-stakes play-off in November.
Check out the pairing for Africa's playoff path:
According to FIFA, the winner will earn a chance to battle in the intercontinental playoff in March 2026, where two additional World Cup slots will be decided.
For now, Black Stars fans are celebrating their fifth World Cup appearance, even as Trump’s remarks cast a political shadow over football’s biggest stage.
Eight nations excluded from World Cup
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that eight nations did not contest the World Cup qualifiers because FIFA does not officially recognise them.
Some of these countries are attempting to gain membership in the football body, but face significant financial and infrastructure challenges.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
