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Former President Trump has repeatedly stated he would urge FIFA to relocate 2026 World Cup games from a host city based on that city's politics, with Boston emerging as the most recent urban area to face such warnings from the White House. Moreover, Trump indicated he would evaluate comparable measures against LA for the 2028 Olympics due to perceived public safety risks.

Jurisdictional Limits and Informal Leverage

Even though Trump lacks official jurisdiction to personally cancel either tournament, he is able to apply pressure the organizing committees managing each competition to shift venues.

Background of Comments

His statements were made during a press event with Argentina's leader Milei, who was present in the White House following the revelation of a $20 billion rescue package for the South American economy. Toward the conclusion of the gathering, a reporter asked Trump about a recent unauthorized gathering in downtown Boston where police officers were assaulted and a cruiser was ignited. The reporter also asked if these incidents could result in the loss of hosting duties for the 48-team soccer tournament.

“It's possible to take them away,” he stated concerning the World Cup fixtures, planned to be held at the Foxborough venue. “She is poor … she is far-left, and they’re taking over sections of downtown. It's a major statement, right?”

Public Gatherings and Public Safety Concerns

Street takeovers, a social media-driven trend where participants gather on urban roads after dark to perform stunts, have become a frequent issue in metropolitan centers since the lockdown restrictions. Current incidents have become aggressive in the state, specifically in downtown. Yet, these gatherings are typically not seen as tied to any particular ideological group.

“When someone is performing poorly, and I perceive there are unsafe conditions, I would call the organization's president, who is phenomenal, and tell him let’s move it to a different city,” the former president stated publicly. “And he would do that. He might not prefer doing it, but he would comply. Very easily, he'd comply.”

Organizational Alignment

Gianni Infantino has been open his attempts to be publicly aligned with Trump prior to next year’s tournament, scheduled to be staged in multiple US locations across the US along with several in Canada and three in Mexico. The head has appeared at various Oval Office events, had Trump present the FIFA club trophy after that tournament’s final, and has even delayed his FIFA's internal meeting to join Trump on a journey to the Gulf states previously.

Past Statements

Despite this, Trump from warning about the relocation of World Cup matches from additional American venues. Recently, Seattle and San Francisco came under comparable criticism, with Trump claiming both cities were “run by ideological activists who don’t know what they’re doing,” while challenging the security conditions of both areas and claiming that games could be shifted.

Organizational Statement

Victor Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s statements when he commented afterward at a conference in England.

“This is our competition, under our authority, the organization determines these matters,” the vice-president declared. “Politely to national heads, football is more important than political figures and the game will endure their tenure and their policies. That is the strength of our game, that it is bigger than one leader and bigger than any country.”

Olympics Threat

During the event, Trump’s reply to a query about Boston veered into a comparable warning regarding the upcoming Summer Games.

“When I thought the city was not going to be sufficiently organized, I would relocate it to another location if necessary,” he said. “For the Olympics I might have to get a varying approval, but we would proceed.”

The permission Trump mentioned would have to come through the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The president, the newly elected president, was elected to her position in this year and has not yet meet publicly with the former president, although she said that she would like a meeting with Trump at a future time.

Additional Criticism

Trump also condemned California governor Newsom’s response of the California fires, remarking that a parallel incident could result in the cancellation of the event.

“If he is uncooperative, we will have to be strict,” the former president said.

The warning was equally direct for the Massachusetts city.

“The city should clean up their act,” he remarked. “That’s all I will say.”