Rumor – FIFA allegedly canceled the 2026 World Cup in the U.S. due to Donald Trump’s policies.
Analysis
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by three North American countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This choice was made official by FIFA in 2018 after a joint bidding process between the nations. Despite the decision, a false story began circulating online.
With the renewed debate in 2025 about Donald Trump’s immigration policy, misleading videos have resurfaced. One of them, posted on TikTok and shared on other social media platforms, claims that FIFA has removed the United States as a World Cup host due to the anti-immigration stance attributed to the former president. Here is the circulating text:
Version 1: FIFA cancels the 2026 World Cup in the United States due to Donald Trump’s immigration policy. The price of intolerance and ignorance. Version 2: FIFA withdraws the 2026 World Cup from the United States because of Donald Trump’s anti-immigration policy.
Transcript: FIFA has decided to hold the 2026 World Cup, which will not take place in the United States. FIFA has decided to remove the U.S. as a host country for the World Cup, and the responsibility lies directly with President Trump. The organization is facing a major issue after thousands of players, coaches, and fans announced they would not travel to the country due to the policy.
Trump’s rampant immigration has caused fear, tension, and negative international reactions. Athletes and delegation members fear being arrested or even losing their visas. Fans worldwide consider the U.S. an unsafe place for a major event like the World Cup. The situation is so serious that several countries have announced they will boycott the event if it is still held in the U.S.
That’s why FIFA has already taken action. The official relocation of the competition to Mexico and Canada provides safer and more popular conditions for players and fans. The U.S. was originally the main contractor and has thus lost the world’s biggest sporting event. All of this was due to the political crisis caused by Trump’s policies. Leave your comments and share this news.
Fact-check
The story quickly went viral on the internet, but it is not true. The video content raises three central claims: 1) Did FIFA cancel the 2026 World Cup in the U.S. because of Trump? 2) Would U.S. immigration policies prevent athletes from entering the country? 3) Are there other fake news stories about the impact of immigration policy in the U.S.?
Did FIFA cancel the 2026 World Cup in the U.S. because of Trump?
No. FIFA is proceeding with plans for the 2026 World Cup with the three original host countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. There is no official statement or announcement from FIFA indicating the cancellation of the U.S. as a host.
On the contrary: FIFA has been regularly publishing logistical, commercial, and promotional information about U.S. stadiums, ticket sales, and the event schedule. It’s also worth noting that the country is about to host another FIFA event: the Club World Cup (starting in June 2025).
Would U.S. immigration policies prevent athletes from entering the country?
Also no. Even during Trump’s strictest immigration periods, clear exceptions were made for athletes and sports delegations, especially at international events. Claims that “thousands of athletes would refuse to enter the country” or “would be arrested” are baseless.
Events like the Copa América and recent FIFA friendlies in the U.S. occurred without immigration-related issues. The The Athletic article cited even highlights that exceptions for athletes remain in place even under radical proposals.
Are there other fake news stories about U.S. immigration policy impacts?
Yes. This kind of misinformation often resurfaces during election cycles or when controversial immigration measures are proposed.
Similar fake stories have previously circulated, such as claims that Amazon or Ford had left the U.S. or halted operations because of Trump’s tariffs. These were debunked by Boatos.org (Amazon) and also regarding Ford. The video claiming the World Cup was canceled due to Trump follows this same pattern—no evidence, no reliable sources.
Conclusion
The video circulating on social media claiming that FIFA canceled the 2026 World Cup in the U.S. because of Donald Trump is false. FIFA continues to plan the tournament in all three host nations.
There is no evidence that immigration policies have impacted athletes or delegations, and no official announcements about boycotts. This is just another misleading narrative trying to exploit political debate to mislead the public.
Fake news ❌
Ps: This article is a suggestion from readers of Boatos.org. If you want to suggest a topic to Boatos.org, contact us via email at [email protected] or WhatsApp (https://wa.me/556192755610)