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Ex-president Trump has once again stated he would pressure FIFA to relocate 2026 World Cup games from a host city based on municipal governance, with the Boston region becoming the latest such city to face such warnings from the American leader. Moreover, Trump remarked he would evaluate parallel steps against Southern California for the 2028 Summer Games due to perceived public safety risks.

Jurisdictional Limits and Informal Leverage

Even though Trump holds no official jurisdiction to personally cancel either competition, he may lobby the international organizations overseeing each event to shift host cities.

Context of Remarks

These comments were made during a media briefing with Argentinian president Milei, who was present in the presidential residence following the revelation of a massive rescue package for the South American economy. Toward the end of the event, a media member asked Trump about a current unauthorized gathering in Boston where law enforcement were targeted and a patrol car was ignited. The reporter also wondered if the situation could cause the revocation of hosting duties for the 48-team football competition.

“We could take them away,” Trump remarked concerning the World Cup fixtures, planned to be staged at the Foxborough venue. “Their mayor is poor … she is radical left, and they’re taking over sections of downtown. That is a pretty big statement, right?”

Street Takeovers and Ideological Perceptions

Public disruptions, a digitally organized trend where groups of people gather on city streets during nighttime to perform stunts, have emerged as a repeated issue in American cities since the lockdown closures. Latest such gatherings have escalated into violence in the region, including Boston. Nevertheless, these events are typically not considered associated with any specific political ideology.

“If a mayor is failing, and I believe exist unsafe conditions, I would call the organization's president, who is outstanding, and suggest we should relocate it to another location,” the former president stated publicly. “He'd do that. He wouldn’t love the action, but he would comply. Without hesitation, he'd comply.”

Political Connections

The organization's head has made no secret his attempts to be visibly associated with the former president prior to the 2026 event, scheduled to be organized in multiple US locations across the America along with several in Canada and a few in the southern neighbor. The FIFA president has been present at multiple presidential events, had Trump hand over the FIFA club cup after that tournament’s final, and has even postponed his own organization’s congress to travel with Trump on a trip to the Arab region earlier in 2025.

Past Statements

Despite this, Trump from suggesting the relocation of soccer events from different locations. Recently, the Washington city and San Francisco faced comparable criticism, with Trump stating both urban centers were “led by ideological activists who lack understanding what they're managing,” while questioning the security conditions of both areas and claiming that events could be shifted.

Organizational Statement

The organization's deputy Montagliani rejected Trump’s assertions when he responded subsequently at a conference in England.

“It’s FIFA’s tournament, under our authority, FIFA makes these matters,” Montagliani stated. “Respectfully to current world leaders, football is transcends them and soccer will endure their regime and their leadership. That is the beauty of our game, that it is bigger than one leader and beyond any country.”

2028 Comments

Similarly, Trump’s reply to a inquiry about the Massachusetts city extended to a parallel statement regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“If I thought LA was not going to be adequately ready, I'd shift it to another location if necessary,” he said. “Regarding that event I might have to get a alternative permission, but we would proceed.”

Official consent Trump alluded to would must come via the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The head, Kirsty Coventry, was elected to her position in this year and has yet to hold a public appearance with the former president, but she indicated that she would like a discussion with the US figure at eventually.

Other Remarks

He also condemned Gavin Newsom’s handling of recent blazes, stating that a comparable scenario could result in the removal of the Games.

“If the governor doesn’t play ball, we’re gonna have to be very tough,” he stated.

His message was equally unambiguous for Boston.

“The city better improve their situation,” he said. “That is I will say.”