President Donald Trump suggested Thursday that he wants to move 2026 World Cup matches out of Seattle, along with other cities he deems unsafe."
It's not clear what the federal government can do to force FIFA to move World Cup matches. Trump's remark comes as he continues his attacks on cities with Democratic mayors, even as Seattle and King County have seen a big drop in homicides and gun violence this year.
Gov. Bob Ferguson posted on X Friday afternoon about what he called "more threats and misinformation from President Trump."
"Seattle will be an excellent host for the World Cup. My team has been working hard with the city of Seattle and our partners to make sure we’re one of the best regions to host these games," he continued. "We’re excited to share our city and our state with the world."
Seattle's Lumen Field will host six matches in June and July: four group-stage matches, one in the round of 32 and one in the round of 16. The U.S. men's national team will play in Seattle on June 19.
A reporter on Thursday asked Trump about cities that are set to host a number of matches but have been resistant to his agenda on immigration and crime, like Seattle and San Francisco.
“They’re going to be very secure,” Trump said initially.
But when the reporter asked if the matches would be moved should the two cities not cooperate, Trump said, “They're run by radical left lunatics who don't know what they're doing.”
He went on to say that “for the World Cup in particular, because they're playing in so many cities, we won't allow it to go to, we'll move it around a little bit. But I hope that's not going to happen.”
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell pointed to declining crime rates in the city and increased police hiring.
"President Trump continues to display his ignorance about our city," he said in a written statement. "We are doing the hard work to prepare for this once-in-a-generation opportunity to welcome the world to Seattle. Seattle is a global destination for sports."
Hana Tadesse, a spokesperson for the Seattle FIFA World Cup 26 organizing committee, said they are "confident in our planning and coordination in advance of next summer's matches."
"Seattle looks forward to shining on the world stage and hosting an event that is not only spectacular, but safe for all," she said.
The upcoming World Cup is expected to bring 750,000 tourists to the city — nearly doubling Seattle's population. As a result, it has loomed enormously over Seattle since FIFA announced that the matches would be held here.
The 2026 date has served as a deadline for completing some of the city’s most ambitious projects, like the new downtown waterfront, and has added urgency to City Hall’s efforts to stabilize its Police Department and ensure the areas around the stadiums and major transit hubs are safe.
It has also acted as a catalyst for improving transportation routes in the city, with markings on bike lanes and pedestrian routes already going up. City officials have announced there will be a construction moratorium in and around downtown during the event.
During the 2025 legislative session, lawmakers earmarked $45 million for upgrades and security measures at Lumen Field.
"Here we go again — another threat designed to create panic," said Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson. "What's he going to do next, cancel Christmas?
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