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Former President Trump has once again declared he would urge FIFA to relocate 2026 World Cup events from a designated city based on that city's political climate, with the Boston region becoming the third such city to encounter such threats from the American leader. Moreover, Trump suggested he would evaluate parallel steps against LA for the 2028 Olympics due to perceived safety issues.

Jurisdictional Limits and Possible Pressure

Although Trump holds no direct legal authority to unilaterally remove either event, he is able to apply pressure the respective governing bodies managing each event to move locations.

Background of Comments

The remarks were made during a news conference with Argentinian president Milei, who was present in the White House following the disclosure of a massive financial assistance for the Latin American country. At the close of the gathering, a reporter asked Trump about a recent public disturbance in downtown Boston where authorities were targeted and a patrol car was ignited. The correspondent also wondered if these incidents could cause the removal of tournament responsibilities for the expanded soccer tournament.

“I would take them away,” the former president remarked regarding the World Cup fixtures, scheduled to be hosted at the Foxborough venue. “Their mayor is not good … they're radical left, and they’re taking over parts of downtown. That is a significant statement, don't you think?”

Street Takeovers and Ideological Perceptions

Unauthorized gatherings, a digitally organized phenomenon where groups of people assemble on urban roads late at night to perform stunts, have emerged as a frequent nuisance in American cities since the coronavirus restrictions. Latest incidents have become aggressive in Massachusetts, notably in Boston. However, these events are generally not seen as associated with any particular political ideology.

“If someone is doing a bad job, and I believe there are security risks, I'd call Gianni [Infantino], who is excellent, and say let’s move it to an alternate venue,” he commented publicly. “He'd do that. He might not prefer to do it, but he’d do it. Readily, he'd comply.”

Organizational Alignment

The organization's head has been open his efforts to be closely connected with the US leader ahead of the upcoming World Cup, planned to be staged in multiple US locations across the US along with a couple in the northern neighbor and multiple in Mexico. The FIFA president has participated at various presidential events, arranged for Trump deliver the Club World Cup award after that tournament’s final, and has even postponed his own organization’s congress to travel with Trump on a visit to the Arab region earlier in 2025.

Earlier Warnings

This has not stopped, Trump from suggesting the relocation of FIFA World Cup matches from other US host cities. On September 25, Seattle and the Bay Area metropolis came under comparable criticism, with Trump asserting both urban centers were “led by radical left lunatics who lack understanding what they’re doing,” while criticizing the public safety of both areas and suggesting that games could be removed.

FIFA Response

FIFA vice-president Montagliani dismissed Trump’s assertions when he reacted days later at a event in the UK capital.

“It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction, the organization determines these matters,” the vice-president stated. “Respectfully to national heads, football is bigger than political figures and football will outlast their administration and their government. It's the essence of our game, that it is bigger than a single person and bigger than a nation.”

LA Games Warning

Similarly, Trump’s answer to a question about Boston veered into a similar threat regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“If I perceived LA was not adequately ready, I will relocate it to an alternate venue if I had to,” he said. “For the Olympics I may have to obtain a different kind of approval, but we'd take that action.”

Official consent Trump mentioned would need to come through the Olympic governing body. The leader, Kirsty Coventry, was selected to her position in March and has not yet meet publicly with him, although she said that she desires a sit-down with him at eventually.

Further Comments

Trump also questioned the state's leader Newsom’s management of the LA wildfires, saying that a similar situation could result in the cancellation of the event.

“When the governor doesn’t play ball, we are going to have to be firm,” he stated.

His message was just as direct for the Massachusetts city.

“The city should clean up their act,” he said. “That is I can say.”