2026 FIFA World Cup: Trump threatens to revoke 'radical left' cities of hosting rights

United States President Donald Trump has renewed threats to strip several American cities of their 2026 FIFA World Cup hosting rights, accusing local leaders of failing to ensure public safety.

Speaking at a recent media briefing, Trump targeted cities including Boston, Seattle, and the San Francisco Bay Area, calling them 'radical left' and 'poorly run'.

"Interestingly, looking at the list of American cities, the top 50, 80% of them have Democratic mayors," notes international correspondent Adam Gilchrist.

Trump suggests that, if safety issues persisted, he would ask FIFA President Gianni Infantino to relocate matches. 

He also hinted that the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics could face similar scrutiny if local authorities 'don’t get prepared properly'. 

 "You can't just move an Olympic Games," says Gilchrist.

"You could arguably just move a couple of football matches, but it's a very difficult kind of sporting landscape, isn't it?”

To listen to Adam Gilchrist in conversation with 702's Bongani Bingwa, use the audio player below: