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Former President Trump has repeatedly announced he would pressure FIFA to pull 2026 World Cup games from a venue based on municipal politics, with the Boston region now being the latest urban area to encounter such statements from the White House. Moreover, Trump suggested he would evaluate parallel steps against Southern California for the upcoming Olympic Games due to potential public safety risks.

Jurisdictional Limits and Possible Pressure

Although Trump lacks formal power to unilaterally remove either competition, he is able to apply pressure the organizing committees overseeing each event to move venues.

Background of Comments

These comments were made during a press event with Argentina's leader Milei, who was present in the executive mansion following the disclosure of a multibillion-dollar rescue package for the South American nation. Near the close of the event, a media member asked Trump about a latest public disturbance in downtown Boston where police officers were targeted and a police vehicle was set on fire. The reporter also questioned if these incidents could result in the removal of organizing rights for the 48-team soccer tournament.

“We could take them away,” Trump stated concerning the World Cup games, set to be staged at the Foxborough venue. “Their mayor is ineffective … she’s extremist, and they are occupying sections of Boston. That’s a significant assertion, isn't it?”

Public Gatherings and Political Context

Public disruptions, a digitally organized phenomenon where groups of people gather on city streets late at night to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have emerged as a ongoing issue in US urban areas since the coronavirus closures. Current such gatherings have escalated into violence in the state, including Boston. However, these occurrences are typically not seen as linked to any distinct partisan agenda.

“When a city is performing poorly, and I feel exist security risks, I'd call the FIFA head, who is outstanding, and suggest we should relocate it to another location,” the former president said during the event. “He will do that. He may not enjoy to do it, but he would comply. Very easily, he'd comply.”

Political Connections

Gianni Infantino has publicly acknowledged his strategies to be visibly associated with the former president prior to the 2026 event, planned to be hosted in numerous American venues across the United States along with a couple in Canada and three in the southern neighbor. The head has appeared at multiple White House gatherings, had Trump present the FIFA club award after that tournament’s final, and has even delayed his the group's assembly to join Trump on a journey to the Gulf states earlier in 2025.

Previous Threats

Despite this, Trump from threatening the removal of FIFA World Cup events from different locations. On September 25, the Washington city and San Francisco faced parallel criticism, with Trump stating both urban centers were “governed by ideological activists who don’t know what they’re doing,” while questioning the security conditions of both areas and claiming that events could be removed.

FIFA Response

FIFA vice-president Montagliani rejected Trump’s claims when he responded afterward at a conference in London.

“This is the organization's event, under our authority, we decide such choices,” Montagliani said. “Respectfully to current world leaders, soccer is more important than any individual and the game will outlast their regime and their government. That’s the strength of our game, that it is bigger than a single person and beyond any country.”

2028 Comments

Similarly, Trump’s reply to a query about the Massachusetts city included a comparable warning regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“If I thought LA was failing to be prepared properly, I will move it to an alternate venue if necessary,” he remarked. “For the Olympics I may have to secure a alternative permission, but we'd take that action.”

Any approval Trump mentioned would must come from the IOC. The leader, Kirsty Coventry, was chosen to her role in March and has so far not meet publicly with him, although she said that she desires a discussion with the US figure at eventually.

Additional Criticism

He also condemned Gavin Newsom’s management of this year’s California fires, remarking that a parallel incident could cause the removal of the event.

“When he doesn’t play ball, we’re gonna have to be strict,” the former president said.

His statement was just as clear for Boston.

“They must improve their situation,” he remarked. “That is I will say.”