Sheriff suggests FIFA dump Seattle for World Cup: ‘They can’t keep athletes safe’

Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank sparked controversy by tweeting that Seattle and Tacoma are “too dangerous to host FIFA,” citing their status as sanctuary cities. He argued the safety of athletes and spectators cannot be guaranteed under local policies that, in his view, “invite lawlessness.”

“Especially because they are sanctuary cities, Seattle and Tacoma are too dangerous to host FIFA. The athletes and spectators need to be safe and secure, and these two cities cannot guarantee their safety. The games should be moved,” he posted.

Swank’s claim comes amid recent comments by former President Donald Trump that 2026 World Cup matches could be moved from U.S. cities deemed unsafe or uncooperative with his crime and immigration agenda.

Trump explicitly named Seattle and San Francisco as potential targets for relocation, after a reporter brought the cities up.

“They’re run by radical left lunatics who don’t know what they’re doing,” Trump noted. He then noted 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 is officially slated to host six matches at Lumen Field as part of the 2026 event.

Especially because they are sanctuary cities, Seattle and Tacoma are too dangerous to host FIFA. The athletes and spectators need to be safe and secure, and these two cities cannot guarantee their safety. The games should be moved. https://t.co/kEiHGL2MOO

— Sheriff Keith Swank (@Swank4America) September 27, 2025

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