Fact Check: Did FIFA really cancel 2026 World Cup matches in the US over Trump's immigration policies?

WASHINGTON, DC: A rumor has been going around that FIFA is on the verge of yanking the 2026 World Cup matches from the US.

Thanks to a viral TikTok video and a bunch of panicked posts across Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and X, many were convinced it was game over for America due to President Donald Trump's immigration policies.

The narrator claimed, "Breaking news. FIFA is now considering stripping the United States of its right to host the 2026 World Cup, and all fingers are pointing directly at Donald Trump. Trump's latest policies are now threatening America's chance to host the world's biggest sporting event."

They continued, "His immigration crackdowns, trade sanctions, multiple nations have issued boycott threats, sponsors are panicking, and broadcasters fear massive global backlash. What was meant to be a global celebration has now turned into a political minefield under Trump's America First agenda."

"At the core of FIFA's concern is Trump's refusal to meet their secret demands. No tax breaks, no special visa privileges, and full financial transparency. The backroom deals FIFA has quietly enjoyed for decades are finally being exposed," the narrator said, before asking, "Will FIFA actually pull the World Cup out of the US, or is this just another global power play aiming to punish Trump's refusal to surrender to international pressure?"

Fact Check: False

Snopes did a deep dive into legit news sources like CNN, Fox News, The Washington Post, and The Associated Press and found zero credible reports confirming any plan to cancel or move matches out of the US.

They also conducted searches on Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo but there were no such indications.

As of this writing, there’s no evidence FIFA is pulling the plug on America's soccer gig. The situation appears to be yet another case of misinformation going viral, with a few AI-generated posts adding to the chaos.

Back in March, Trump met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the White House, where he pledged support for both the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2026 World Cup.

Then, in April, the Associated Press reported that Democratic Senator Ron Wyden from Oregon asked Trump’s administration to rethink its travel policies. He pointed directly to the upcoming 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as reasons to make it easier for people to come to the US.

By early May, Cabinet members were sending out mixed signals. NBC News reported that Trump’s team warned international visitors not to overstay their visas.

Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem tried to put a friendlier spin on things. "We will take care of their documentation and travel documents, and it will go smoothly. And we will make sure that they can come and enjoy and bring their families and friends and make memories together," she reassured.

Human Rights Watch weighs in, Trump’s ban stirs concern

Things got a little more intense on May 13 when Human Rights Watch stepped in.

Politico reported that the group sent a letter to Infantino raising “grave concerns” about Trump’s policies. They even suggested FIFA should be “prepared to reconsider the hosting decision” if the safety of fans and players couldn’t be guaranteed.

There were also concerns about long wait times for visa appointments and even travel advisories issued by some European countries warning folks about coming to the US.

But just two days later on May 15, Reuters reported that Infantino was all smiles. “The world is welcome in America," he said.

It's worth noting that Trump’s travel ban affects 12 countries and slaps restrictions on others. But athletes, coaches, and their inner circles traveling for major sporting events, including the World Cup and Olympics, are technically exempt.

According to the policy, there are exceptions for "any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State."

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