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Ex-president Trump has once again stated he would pressure FIFA to remove global soccer tournament events from a venue based on the local political climate, with Boston emerging as the third such city to encounter such warnings from the American leader. Additionally, Trump suggested he would evaluate parallel steps against Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Games due to potential security concerns.

Legal Authority and Informal Leverage

Although Trump holds no official jurisdiction to personally cancel either tournament, he may lobby the international organizations in charge of each tournament to shift host cities.

Context of Remarks

The statements were made during a press event with Argentina's leader Milei, who was visiting the presidential residence following the revelation of a massive financial assistance for the Latin American country. Toward the close of the event, a media member inquired Trump about a recent “street takeover” in the city where law enforcement were assaulted and a patrol car was set on fire. The reporter also wondered if these incidents could lead to the revocation of tournament responsibilities for the expanded football competition.

“We could take them away,” Trump stated about the FIFA World Cup fixtures, planned to be hosted at the Foxborough venue. “The city's leader is poor … she is radical left, and they’re occupying parts of the city. That’s a significant statement, isn't it?”

Urban Disturbances and Ideological Perceptions

Street takeovers, a social media-driven occurrence where groups of people assemble on public avenues late at night to engage in dangerous driving, have been a repeated problem in American cities since the coronavirus restrictions. Recent incidents have turned violent in the region, notably in downtown. However, these gatherings are generally not regarded as associated with any particular political ideology.

“If someone is doing a bad job, and I perceive exist security risks, I would call Gianni [Infantino], who is outstanding, and say we should relocate it to an alternate venue,” the former president stated during the event. “He will do that. He wouldn’t love doing it, but he would comply. Without hesitation, he would.”

FIFA Relationship

FIFA President has publicly acknowledged his strategies to be publicly aligned with the former president ahead of the 2026 event, planned to be hosted in 11 cities across the US along with several in Canada and a few in the southern neighbor. The FIFA president has appeared at multiple presidential functions, arranged for Trump deliver the FIFA club award after that tournament’s final, and has even delayed his FIFA's internal meeting to join Trump on a journey to the Gulf states earlier in 2025.

Earlier Warnings

Despite this, Trump from warning about the removal of FIFA World Cup games from other US host cities. In late September, the Washington city and the Bay Area metropolis faced comparable criticism, with Trump stating both locations were “run by far-left extremists who don’t know what they're managing,” while criticizing the security conditions of both cities and suggesting that games could be shifted.

Organizational Statement

Victor Montagliani dismissed Trump’s claims when he commented afterward at a event in the UK capital.

“It is the organization's event, under our authority, we decide such choices,” he said. “Politely to current world leaders, football is bigger than them and football will survive their regime and their leadership. That’s the beauty of football, that it is transcends any individual and bigger than individual states.”

2028 Comments

On Tuesday, Trump’s reply to a inquiry about the Massachusetts city included a comparable warning regarding the LA Olympic event.

“When I thought Los Angeles was not prepared properly, I will relocate it to an alternate venue as needed,” he said. “On that one I’d probably have to obtain a varying approval, but we would proceed.”

Any approval Trump refers to would need to come through the IOC. Their leader, she, was chosen to her post in this year and has not yet appear together with the former president, though she said that she would like a sit-down with the US figure at eventually.

Additional Criticism

He also questioned the state's leader Newsom’s response of recent blazes, remarking that a comparable scenario could result in the cancellation of the Games.

“In case Newsom doesn’t play ball, we are going to have to be very tough,” the former president commented.

His message was equally unambiguous for Boston.

“They must clean up their act,” Trump stated. “It's I can say.”