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Donald Trump has yet again stated he would urge FIFA to remove upcoming World Cup events from a designated city based on municipal politics, with Massachusetts becoming the third targeted location to face such warnings from the American leader. Moreover, Trump indicated he would contemplate similar action against Southern California for the 2028 Summer Games due to perceived safety issues.

Official Power and Possible Pressure

Even though Trump does not have direct legal authority to directly relocate either event, he is able to exert influence the respective governing bodies in charge of each tournament to shift venues.

Setting for Statements

These remarks were made during a media briefing with Argentinian president Milei, who was at the White House following the disclosure of a massive financial assistance for the South American country. Toward the close of the gathering, a journalist asked Trump about a recent public disturbance in downtown Boston where police officers were targeted and a patrol car was burned. The journalist also asked if the situation could cause the removal of organizing rights for the 48-team soccer tournament.

“We could take them away,” the former president stated about the FIFA World Cup fixtures, planned to be held at the Foxborough venue. “Their mayor is ineffective … she’s extremist, and they are dominating sections of Boston. That is a major claim, isn't it?”

Urban Disturbances and Public Safety Concerns

Public disruptions, a online-fueled occurrence where participants congregate on city streets after dark to engage in dangerous driving, have become a frequent issue in metropolitan centers since the coronavirus shutdowns. Current such gatherings have become aggressive in Massachusetts, including Boston. Yet, these events are usually not regarded as tied to any distinct ideological group.

“If a city is failing, and I perceive there’s dangerous circumstances, I would call the FIFA head, who is excellent, and suggest we should relocate it to an alternate venue,” the former president stated publicly. “And he would do that. He may not enjoy doing it, but he’d do it. Readily, he'd comply.”

Political Connections

FIFA President has been open his strategies to be closely connected with the US leader prior to the 2026 event, set to be staged in multiple US locations across the US along with several in Canada and a few in the southern neighbor. The head has participated at multiple presidential functions, facilitated Trump hand over the FIFA club award after the championship match, and has even rescheduled his the group's assembly to join Trump on a trip to the Middle East earlier in 2025.

Previous Threats

Nevertheless, Trump from threatening the removal of soccer matches from different locations. In late September, the Washington city and San Francisco came under comparable criticism, with Trump stating both urban centers were “led by far-left extremists who are clueless what they are doing,” while criticizing the security conditions of both locales and suggesting that games could be removed.

Organizational Statement

FIFA vice-president Montagliani rejected Trump’s statements when he commented subsequently at a conference in England.

“This is the organization's event, under our authority, we decide such choices,” Montagliani said. “With all due respect to national heads, the sport is transcends any individual and soccer will outlast their regime and their leadership. That’s the strength of this sport, that it is more significant than one leader and more important than individual states.”

2028 Comments

During the event, Trump’s reply to a inquiry about Boston veered into a comparable warning regarding the LA Olympic event.

“When I perceived Los Angeles was not going to be adequately ready, I'd relocate it to another location if necessary,” he said. “For the Olympics I may have to secure a different kind of approval, but we will proceed.”

Any approval Trump refers to would need to come from the Olympic governing body. Their president, the newly elected president, was elected to her position in March and has not yet appear together with Trump, but she indicated that she would like a meeting with him at eventually.

Additional Criticism

He also condemned the state's leader Newsom’s management of recent LA wildfires, remarking that a parallel incident could result in the relocation of the event.

“When he is uncooperative, we’re gonna have to be strict,” he commented.

His statement was equally direct for Boston.

“The city better address these issues,” Trump stated. “That is I can say.”