Calls Grow For USA to be Stripped of 2026 World Cup After Charlie Kirk Shooting

Football fans have taken to social media, most notably on X (formerly Twitter), to express deep concerns over the United States hosting the upcoming 2026 World Cup finals after activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead on Wednesday at Utah Valley University.

Dad-of-two Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was hosting an event on the University campus when he was shot in the neck. Rushed to a local hospital in an attempt to save him, President Donald Trump later announced that he had passed away. He wrote: “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk is dead.

Fans Call for the USA to be Stripped of Hosting Duties for 2026 World Cup

In terms of the 2026 World Cup, games are set to be staged in Mexico, Canada and the United States; though, as expected, the majority of matches will be played in the latter. But following the 31-year-old’s tragic death, fans believe that hosting are calling FIFA to make a crucial decision after expressing safety concerns.

The highly-anticipated World Cup is scheduled to begin on June 11, with the first US-hosted game coming the following day in Los Angeles, but there is a common belief among supporters that it is simply not safe for America to host the international showpiece next summer and that FIFA need to reconsider their stance.

To put America’s strong hosting position into perspective: of the 16 host cities across all three countries, 11 of those are located in the United States. Elsewhere, every single one of the games from the quarterfinals onward will be hosted in the USA for ease. The final will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

And fans, less than a year prior to the tournament getting underway, have insisted that the United States no longer offers a safe environment for the millions of international fans that will flood the stadiums; and Kirk’s death has become a catalyst for widespread concerns across the supporters.

“America should be stripped of the World Cup,” one said as another shared the same sentiment that it’s too unsafe by writing: “With the broad daylight shooting and killing of Charlie Kirk, America should not be allowed by FIFA to co-host the World Cup.” A third fan said: “Once again, hosting the World Cup in America is a terrible idea. The Charlie Kirk news is so heartbreaking.”

The same message echoed as another wrote: “The World Cup shouldn’t be played anywhere near the USA,” before one added: “Kinda scary to think that USA will host a World Cup next year.” Another suggested that, as a means of sending a message to the people of America, FIFA should do the right thing and strip them of their duty to host the competition.

“The World Cup cannot go ahead in America for everyone’s safety,” another wrote before one suggested that Mexico and Canada could take over the full hosting rights: “USA is not a safe place to host the World Cup. Keep it in Canada and Mexico.” The overall reaction concluded with a question: “How will the World Cup be held in an unsafe country after the scenes of Charlie Kirk’s murder?”