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Ex-president Trump has yet again declared he would pressure FIFA to pull 2026 World Cup matches from a designated city based on that city's political climate, with Boston emerging as the latest targeted location to face such statements from the US president. Additionally, Trump indicated he would contemplate parallel steps against Southern California for the 2028 Olympics due to perceived security concerns.

Official Power and Informal Leverage

While Trump lacks direct legal authority to directly relocate either event, he can apply pressure the international organizations in charge of each tournament to shift locations.

Context of Remarks

His statements were made during a news conference with Javier Milei, who was at the White House following the announcement of a $20 billion bailout for the South American economy. Toward the conclusion of the meeting, a journalist asked Trump about a recent “street takeover” in downtown Boston where police officers were attacked and a patrol car was burned. The correspondent also asked if the situation could lead to the removal of tournament responsibilities for the larger soccer tournament.

“I would take them away,” Trump said about the World Cup fixtures, set to be hosted at Gillette Stadium. “The city's leader is ineffective … she’s extremist, and activists are dominating sections of Boston. It's a major statement, right?”

Urban Disturbances and Public Safety Concerns

Unauthorized gatherings, a digitally organized trend where participants gather on public avenues late at night to engage in dangerous driving, have become a repeated nuisance in American cities since the lockdown shutdowns. Latest incidents have become aggressive in Massachusetts, notably in the city. Nevertheless, these gatherings are typically not considered linked to any specific political ideology.

“In cases where someone is failing, and I feel there’s dangerous circumstances, I will call the organization's president, who is outstanding, and suggest let’s move it to a different city,” Trump said during the event. “He'd do that. He may not enjoy the action, but he’d do it. Without hesitation, he would.”

Political Connections

The organization's head has made no secret his efforts to be closely connected with the former president prior to the upcoming World Cup, set to be staged in 11 cities across the US along with two in the northern neighbor and multiple in Mexico. The FIFA president has appeared at multiple Oval Office functions, facilitated Trump hand over the Club World Cup cup after the concluding game, and has even delayed his own organization’s congress to join Trump on a visit to the Arab region earlier in 2025.

Earlier Warnings

Nevertheless, Trump from threatening the removal of FIFA World Cup events from different locations. In late September, the Washington city and San Francisco faced parallel criticism, with Trump claiming both urban centers were “led by far-left extremists who don’t know what they're managing,” while criticizing the public safety of both locales and suggesting that games could be removed.

Organizational Statement

FIFA vice-president Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s statements when he commented days later at a gathering in England.

“It is our competition, FIFA’s jurisdiction, the organization determines such choices,” he said. “Respectfully to current world leaders, the sport is transcends political figures and soccer will outlast their regime and their government. That is the beauty of our game, that it is more significant than a single person and bigger than individual states.”

LA Games Warning

On Tuesday, Trump’s answer to a query about the Massachusetts city veered into a similar threat regarding the upcoming Summer Games.

“When I thought LA was not going to be prepared properly, I would move it to a different city if necessary,” Trump stated. “On that one I’d probably have to get a different kind of permission, but we will take that action.”

Official consent Trump mentioned would have to come from the Olympic governing body. Their president, the newly elected president, was elected to her post in March and has not yet meet publicly with the former president, though she stated that she would like a sit-down with him at some point.

Further Comments

The former president also condemned Gavin Newsom’s response of this year’s blazes, saying that a parallel incident could lead to the relocation of the Olympics.

“If the governor doesn’t play ball, we will have to be firm,” he stated.

His statement was just as direct for Boston.

“They should improve their situation,” Trump stated. “That’s all I can say.”