🔗 Share this article

Ex-president Trump has yet again announced he would influence FIFA to remove 2026 World Cup matches from a designated city based on the local political climate, with Boston becoming the most recent such city to receive such statements from the US president. Furthermore, Trump suggested he would consider parallel steps against Los Angeles for the upcoming Olympic Games due to perceived safety issues.

Jurisdictional Limits and Informal Leverage

Although Trump holds no formal power to unilaterally remove either tournament, he is able to lobby the international organizations overseeing each event to change venues.

Setting for Statements

The statements were made during a news conference with Argentina's leader Milei, who was visiting the executive mansion following the disclosure of a $20 billion rescue package for the Argentine country. At the end of the gathering, a journalist asked Trump about a latest unauthorized gathering in Boston where authorities were assaulted and a cruiser was ignited. The correspondent also questioned if such events could result in the removal of hosting duties for the larger soccer tournament.

“We could take them away,” he remarked regarding the World Cup fixtures, scheduled to be staged at the Massachusetts arena. “Their mayor is not good … she is far-left, and they are taking over parts of the city. That is a major assertion, don't you think?”

Urban Disturbances and Political Context

Street takeovers, a social media-driven phenomenon where groups of people gather on public avenues late at night to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have emerged as a ongoing nuisance in American cities since the lockdown shutdowns. Current similar events have turned violent in the state, including Boston. Yet, these occurrences are typically not seen as tied to any particular ideological group.

“In cases where someone is performing poorly, and I believe there’s security risks, I will call Gianni [Infantino], who is phenomenal, and say we should relocate it to another location,” he commented publicly. “And he would do that. He wouldn’t love doing it, but he'd agree. Readily, he'd comply.”

Organizational Alignment

The organization's head has been open his attempts to be publicly aligned with the former president ahead of next year’s tournament, planned to be hosted in numerous American venues across the United States along with several in the northern neighbor and a few in Mexico. The organization's leader has participated at various White House gatherings, facilitated Trump hand over the club tournament award after the championship match, and has even delayed his the group's assembly to travel with Trump on a trip to the Middle East earlier in 2025.

Previous Threats

Nevertheless, Trump from warning about the relocation of soccer events from other US host cities. On September 25, the Washington city and San Francisco were comparable statements, with Trump stating both urban centers were “led by radical left lunatics who are clueless what they're managing,” while questioning the safety level of both areas and implying that events could be removed.

Organizational Statement

Victor Montagliani rejected Trump’s claims when he responded subsequently at a gathering in England.

“It is the organization's event, our responsibility, we decide those decisions,” Montagliani said. “Politely to current world leaders, the sport is bigger than any individual and the game will survive their tenure and their leadership. That is the strength of football, that it is bigger than any individual and beyond individual states.”

Olympics Threat

Similarly, Trump’s response to a inquiry about Boston veered into a comparable warning regarding the upcoming Summer Games.

“In case I perceived the city was not sufficiently organized, I'd shift it to another location if I had to,” he remarked. “On that one I’d probably have to get a alternative permission, but we would proceed.”

The permission Trump mentioned would have to come via the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Their head, she, was elected to her position in March and has yet to meet publicly with him, though she indicated that she desires a sit-down with Trump at eventually.

Further Comments

The former president also criticized Gavin Newsom’s response of recent California fires, remarking that a similar situation could lead to the removal of the event.

“In case the governor refuses to cooperate, we will have to be very tough,” Trump said.

The warning was just as unambiguous for Boston.

“Boston must address these issues,” Trump stated. “That is I will say.”