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Former President Trump has once again stated he would pressure FIFA to remove upcoming World Cup matches from a host city based on municipal politics, with Boston becoming the third targeted location to face such threats from the American leader. Furthermore, Trump suggested he would evaluate parallel steps against LA for the 2028 Summer Games due to possible safety issues.

Official Power and Informal Leverage

Although Trump lacks official jurisdiction to unilaterally remove either tournament, he may lobby the organizing committees overseeing each competition to shift venues.

Context of Remarks

The remarks were made during a news conference with Javier Milei, who was at the executive mansion following the revelation of a $20 billion rescue package for the South American economy. Near the conclusion of the gathering, a journalist asked Trump about a current “street takeover” in the city where police officers were attacked and a cruiser was ignited. The reporter also asked if these incidents could lead to the loss of organizing rights for the 48-team soccer tournament.

“We could take them away,” Trump stated regarding the soccer matches, set to be hosted at the Foxborough venue. “The city's leader is ineffective … she is extremist, and they’re taking over parts of the city. That is a significant assertion, don't you think?”

Urban Disturbances and Public Safety Concerns

Public disruptions, a digitally organized trend where large crowds gather on public avenues during nighttime to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have become a ongoing nuisance in US urban areas since the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. Recent similar events have turned violent in the region, including the city. Yet, these gatherings are typically not regarded as tied to any specific partisan agenda.

“In cases where someone is performing poorly, and I perceive exist unsafe conditions, I'd call the FIFA head, who is phenomenal, and say it should be shifted to another location,” the former president stated during the event. “He'd do that. He wouldn’t love the action, but he’d do it. Without hesitation, he'd comply.”

Organizational Alignment

FIFA President has been open his efforts to be publicly aligned with Trump before the 2026 event, scheduled to be hosted in 11 cities across the America along with several in the northern neighbor and three in the southern neighbor. The FIFA president has appeared at various presidential gatherings, arranged for Trump deliver the club tournament cup after that tournament’s final, and has even postponed his own organization’s congress to join Trump on a trip to the Gulf states earlier in 2025.

Previous Threats

Despite this, Trump from threatening the relocation of World Cup matches from additional American venues. On September 25, Seattle and San Francisco were parallel criticism, with Trump claiming both urban centers were “run by radical left lunatics who don’t know what they’re doing,” while criticizing the public safety of both locales and implying that games could be relocated.

Official Rebuttal

FIFA vice-president Montagliani dismissed Trump’s assertions when he reacted afterward at a event in London.

“It’s the organization's event, FIFA’s jurisdiction, we decide such choices,” he declared. “Respectfully to sitting presidents, the sport is transcends them and soccer will endure their tenure and their government. That is the essence of football, that it is more significant than one leader and more important than any country.”

2028 Comments

Similarly, Trump’s reply to a inquiry about the Massachusetts city included a similar threat regarding the LA Olympic event.

“If I thought the city was not going to be prepared properly, I will shift it to another location if I had to,” Trump stated. “Regarding that event I’d probably have to secure a different kind of approval, but we'd proceed.”

Official consent Trump alluded to would need to come through the IOC. The president, she, was chosen to her position in spring and has yet to hold a public appearance with him, but she indicated that she desires a sit-down with Trump at eventually.

Further Comments

Trump also condemned Gavin Newsom’s response of this year’s California fires, saying that a parallel incident could lead to the removal of the Olympics.

“When he refuses to cooperate, we will have to be firm,” Trump stated.

His statement was similarly unambiguous for Boston.

“Boston better improve their situation,” Trump stated. “It's I can say.”