President Donald Trump declared Tuesday that the federal government would 'force ourselves upon' Los Angeles to ensure security during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing concerns over crime.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said, "We're gonna have to do something when it comes World Cup time, and we're gonna have to force ourselves upon them, which we have the right to do, because we don't want to have any crime, we don't want to have any problems." The remarks came as preparations intensify for the tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

Los Angeles will host six group-stage matches at SoFi Stadium, drawing thousands of fans and putting the city's infrastructure and public safety under global scrutiny. Trump has repeatedly highlighted crime in Democratic-led cities hosting World Cup games, including threats earlier to relocate matches from venues he deems unsafe.

The president's comments build on recent statements. On March 26, during a White House Cabinet meeting, Trump expressed interest in deploying federalized troops to Los Angeles and San Francisco, similar to operations in Washington, D.C., where he claimed crime dropped 75%. He referenced past federal interventions, including 4,000 California National Guard members and 700 Marines sent to Los Angeles in June 2025 amid immigration enforcement, though courts later ruled those deployments unlawful.

In August 2025, Trump hinted at military involvement if needed for the World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, stating, "We'll go military if we have to." Earlier that year, he established a White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026 via executive order to coordinate preparations.

Local leaders have pushed back against federal overreach. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass previously called similar troop deployments a "chaotic escalation" that instilled fear in communities. Neither Bass nor California Governor Gavin Newsom's offices responded to requests for comment on Tuesday's remarks. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie noted local progress, with crime down 30% in his city.

Trump's approach aligns with his administration's focus on public safety for major events. The World Cup is expected to generate billions in economic impact, but security challenges loom amid ongoing debates over immigration enforcement near match sites. FIFA has deferred to the U.S. government on host city safety determinations.

As the tournament nears, with less than three months until kickoff, federal-state tensions could shape preparations in Los Angeles and other host cities.