🔗 Share this article

Former President Trump has yet again announced he would urge FIFA to relocate 2026 World Cup matches from a host city based on municipal political climate, with Boston now being the latest urban area to encounter such threats from the American leader. Furthermore, Trump remarked he would consider comparable measures against Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Games due to possible public safety risks.

Jurisdictional Limits and Informal Leverage

While Trump holds no direct legal authority to unilaterally remove either event, he is able to lobby the international organizations in charge of each tournament to shift locations.

Setting for Statements

The statements were made during a press event with Argentina's leader Milei, who was at the White House following the revelation of a multibillion-dollar financial assistance for the Latin American nation. Toward the conclusion of the meeting, a reporter asked Trump about a recent unauthorized gathering in Boston where police officers were targeted and a police vehicle was set on fire. The journalist also wondered if the situation could result in the removal of hosting duties for the 48-team football competition.

“We could take them away,” he said regarding the soccer matches, scheduled to be staged at Gillette Stadium. “Their mayor is ineffective … they're extremist, and they’re taking over parts of downtown. That is a significant statement, right?”

Public Gatherings and Public Safety Concerns

Public disruptions, a online-fueled phenomenon where participants gather on urban roads after dark to engage in dangerous driving, have emerged as a frequent nuisance in US urban areas since the Covid-19 pandemic shutdowns. Recent such gatherings have escalated into violence in the region, specifically in the city. However, these gatherings are typically not regarded as linked to any distinct ideological group.

“When a city is performing poorly, and I believe there are unsafe conditions, I will call the FIFA head, who is excellent, and suggest we should relocate it to an alternate venue,” he stated on Tuesday. “He'd do that. He wouldn’t love the action, but he’d do it. Readily, he'd comply.”

Political Connections

The organization's head has been open his efforts to be visibly associated with the US leader before next year’s tournament, planned to be organized in multiple US locations across the United States along with several in the northern neighbor and three in the southern neighbor. The organization's leader has been present at multiple White House functions, had Trump hand over the FIFA club award after the championship match, 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

Nevertheless, Trump from warning about the cancellation of soccer events from additional American venues. On September 25, Seattle and San Francisco were comparable statements, with Trump stating both locations were “led by far-left extremists who don’t know what they are doing,” while challenging the public safety of both cities and suggesting that games could be shifted.

Official Rebuttal

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

“This is our competition, under our authority, FIFA makes those decisions,” Montagliani stated. “Respectfully to sitting presidents, football is transcends any individual and football will endure their tenure and their policies. That’s the beauty of this sport, that it is bigger than one leader and more important than a nation.”

Olympics Threat

Similarly, Trump’s reply to a inquiry about Boston extended to a parallel statement regarding the upcoming Summer Games.

“In case I thought the city was not going to be sufficiently organized, I'd relocate it to another location if necessary,” he said. “For the Olympics I’d probably have to obtain a different kind of permission, but we would proceed.”

The permission Trump refers to would must come through the IOC. Their president, the newly elected president, was selected to her position in March and has yet to appear together with him, though she indicated that she desires a discussion with Trump at eventually.

Further Comments

Trump also questioned Gavin Newsom’s response of this year’s blazes, stating that a similar situation could lead to the relocation of the Games.

“If Newsom doesn’t play ball, we’re gonna have to be strict,” Trump commented.

The warning was similarly direct for Boston.

“Boston must improve their situation,” Trump stated. “It's I will say.”