Overview

• Speaking from the Oval Office, the president said games could be shifted away from host cities he considers unsafe, naming Seattle and San Francisco.
• He added that a similar approach could be used for events at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 if safety is in question.
• Reporters and legal analysts note that FIFA holds final authority over World Cup venues under binding agreements, casting doubt on a unilateral change by Washington.
• Seattle’s Lumen Field and the Bay Area’s Levi’s Stadium are each slated to host six matches as part of the tournament’s 11 U.S. sites.
• With the tournament less than a year away, federal security rhetoric and prior National Guard deployments introduce uncertainty as FIFA prepares the Dec. 5 group-stage draw in Washington, D.C.