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Donald Trump has repeatedly declared he would influence FIFA to remove 2026 World Cup games from a designated city based on municipal politics, with the Boston region emerging as the third targeted location to face such threats from the US president. Moreover, Trump indicated he would consider similar action against LA for the 2028 Olympics due to perceived security concerns.

Jurisdictional Limits and Potential Influence

Although Trump does not have formal power to directly relocate either event, he can apply pressure the respective governing bodies overseeing each tournament to change venues.

Setting for Statements

These remarks were made during a media briefing with Javier Milei, who was visiting the executive mansion following the disclosure of a multibillion-dollar rescue package for the South American economy. Near the conclusion of the event, a reporter questioned Trump about a current public disturbance in the city where police officers were targeted and a cruiser was ignited. The journalist also wondered if such events could result in the loss of hosting duties for the expanded World Cup.

“It's possible to take them away,” Trump remarked regarding the FIFA World Cup games, scheduled to be hosted at the Foxborough venue. “The city's leader is poor … she’s far-left, and activists are taking over areas of the city. That’s a significant assertion, don't you think?”

Urban Disturbances and Public Safety Concerns

Street takeovers, a digitally organized occurrence where large crowds assemble on urban roads during nighttime to perform stunts, have emerged as a repeated problem in US urban areas since the lockdown shutdowns. Latest similar events have escalated into violence in the region, specifically in downtown. Yet, these occurrences are generally not regarded as linked to any distinct partisan agenda.

“When someone is doing a bad job, and I believe there are unsafe conditions, I would call the FIFA head, who is outstanding, and tell him let’s move it to a different city,” Trump stated during the event. “He will do that. He may not enjoy the action, but he would comply. Without hesitation, he’d do it.”

Organizational Alignment

Gianni Infantino has publicly acknowledged his attempts to be closely connected with the former president ahead of the 2026 event, scheduled to be organized in multiple US locations across the US along with two in Canada and multiple in Mexico. The head has been present at multiple presidential functions, had Trump present the FIFA club cup after the championship match, and has even rescheduled his the group's assembly to join Trump on a trip to the Middle East previously.

Previous Threats

This has not stopped, Trump from threatening the cancellation of soccer matches from other US host cities. Recently, Seattle and the Bay Area metropolis came under comparable criticism, with Trump asserting both urban centers were “led by far-left extremists who don’t know what they are doing,” while criticizing the safety level of both cities and suggesting that matches could be relocated.

Official Rebuttal

The organization's deputy Montagliani dismissed Trump’s claims when he commented subsequently at a conference in the UK capital.

“It’s our competition, our responsibility, we decide those decisions,” he declared. “Respectfully to sitting presidents, soccer is transcends them and soccer will endure their administration and their leadership. That’s the beauty of football, that it is more significant than one leader and beyond a nation.”

Olympics Threat

On Tuesday, Trump’s answer to a question about the Massachusetts city extended to a parallel statement regarding the LA Olympic event.

“In case I thought the city was failing to be adequately ready, I would move it to an alternate venue if necessary,” he remarked. “Regarding that event I may have to secure a different kind of approval, but we would proceed.”

The permission Trump mentioned would need to come via the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Their head, she, was elected to her position in this year and has so far not meet publicly with Trump, although she said that she desires a discussion with Trump at some point.

Further Comments

He also criticized the state's leader Newsom’s management of recent blazes, stating that a comparable scenario could cause the removal of the Olympics.

“In case he refuses to cooperate, we will have to be firm,” he commented.

His message was equally direct for the Massachusetts city.

“The city better clean up their act,” he said. “It's my message.”