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Donald Trump has once again declared he would influence FIFA to pull global soccer tournament events from a designated city based on that city's political climate, with Massachusetts now being the third targeted location to face such warnings from the US president. Moreover, Trump indicated he would contemplate comparable measures against Southern California for the upcoming Olympic Games due to potential public safety risks.

Official Power and Informal Leverage

Even though Trump holds no direct legal authority to directly relocate either tournament, he may exert influence the respective governing bodies in charge of each event to shift venues.

Context of Remarks

His comments were made during a news conference with Javier Milei, who was present in the presidential residence following the revelation of a $20 billion bailout for the Argentine country. Toward the close of the gathering, a journalist asked Trump about a recent public disturbance in Boston where law enforcement were targeted and a patrol car was set on fire. The journalist also wondered if these incidents could lead to the removal of hosting duties for the expanded World Cup.

“I would take them away,” the former president said regarding the World Cup matches, set to be staged at the Foxborough venue. “Their mayor is ineffective … she is far-left, and they’re taking over sections of the city. That’s a significant statement, isn't it?”

Street Takeovers and Public Safety Concerns

Public disruptions, a digitally organized phenomenon where groups of people assemble on city streets late at night to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have been a repeated problem in metropolitan centers since the coronavirus restrictions. Current such gatherings have escalated into violence in the state, including Boston. Yet, these occurrences are generally not regarded as tied to any specific political ideology.

“In cases where someone is failing, and I perceive there’s unsafe conditions, I will call the FIFA head, who is outstanding, and tell him let’s move it to an alternate venue,” he stated during the event. “He will do that. He might not prefer the action, but he would comply. Readily, he would.”

FIFA Relationship

The organization's head has made no secret his efforts to be publicly aligned with the former president ahead of next year’s tournament, scheduled to be staged in 11 cities across the United States along with two in Canada and a few in the southern neighbor. The head has appeared at several Oval Office gatherings, arranged for Trump present the club tournament trophy after the concluding game, and has even delayed his own organization’s congress to accompany Trump on a trip to the Gulf states earlier in 2025.

Earlier Warnings

Nevertheless, Trump from threatening the cancellation of World Cup events from additional American venues. In late September, the Washington city and the Bay Area metropolis faced comparable comments, with Trump stating both locations were “run by far-left extremists who are clueless what they're managing,” while criticizing the safety level of both areas and implying that matches could be removed.

FIFA Response

FIFA vice-president Montagliani dismissed Trump’s assertions when he responded afterward at a conference in England.

“This is FIFA’s tournament, our responsibility, the organization determines such choices,” he said. “With all due respect to current world leaders, football is bigger than political figures and the game will survive their regime and their leadership. That’s the essence of this sport, that it is bigger than any individual and bigger than individual states.”

2028 Comments

Similarly, Trump’s reply to a inquiry about Boston extended to a parallel statement regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“In case I perceived LA was failing to be adequately ready, I'd move it to another location if necessary,” he said. “On that one I may have to get a varying permission, but we would proceed.”

The permission Trump refers to would have to come from the Olympic governing body. Their head, she, was selected to her post in spring and has not yet hold a public appearance with the former president, though she stated that she would like a meeting with Trump at some point.

Further Comments

Trump also criticized the state's leader Newsom’s response of the California fires, stating that a similar situation could result in the removal of the event.

“When the governor doesn’t play ball, we’re gonna have to be strict,” he said.

His statement was equally clear for Boston.

“Boston better improve their situation,” he said. “It's I will say.”