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Ex-president Trump has yet again declared he would pressure FIFA to pull 2026 World Cup events from a designated city based on the local politics, with Boston becoming the third urban area to receive such statements from the American leader. Moreover, Trump suggested he would contemplate comparable measures against Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Games due to potential public safety risks.

Legal Authority and Informal Leverage

Although Trump holds no direct legal authority to unilaterally remove either tournament, he can lobby the respective governing bodies in charge of each tournament to change locations.

Context of Remarks

These statements were made during a media briefing with Argentinian president Milei, who was present in the White House following the announcement of a $20 billion bailout for the Latin American economy. Near the conclusion of the event, a journalist inquired Trump about a latest “street takeover” in the city where authorities were targeted and a police vehicle was set on fire. The correspondent also questioned if such events could cause the removal of organizing rights for the expanded soccer tournament.

“It's possible to take them away,” the former president remarked concerning the soccer matches, scheduled to be staged at the Massachusetts arena. “She is not good … they're far-left, and activists are occupying sections of downtown. That’s a pretty big claim, don't you think?”

Urban Disturbances and Political Context

Street takeovers, a online-fueled occurrence where large crowds congregate on public avenues after dark to perform stunts, have become a repeated problem in metropolitan centers since the Covid-19 pandemic closures. Recent similar events have become aggressive in the region, specifically in downtown. Nevertheless, these events are typically not considered associated with any distinct ideological group.

“When a city is performing poorly, and I perceive exist unsafe conditions, I'd call the FIFA head, who is outstanding, and tell him we should relocate it to a different city,” he stated during the event. “He will do that. He wouldn’t love to do it, but he would comply. Readily, he'd comply.”

FIFA Relationship

FIFA President has been open his attempts to be visibly associated with the former president prior to the 2026 event, set to be hosted in multiple US locations across the America along with two in the northern neighbor and a few in Mexico. The head has participated at various Oval Office events, facilitated Trump deliver the FIFA club trophy after the championship match, and has even delayed his own organization’s congress to join Trump on a journey to the Arab region earlier in 2025.

Earlier Warnings

This has not stopped, Trump from suggesting the cancellation of World Cup matches from other US host cities. In late September, the Washington city and the Bay Area metropolis came under comparable criticism, with Trump claiming both urban centers were “run by radical left lunatics who lack understanding what they are doing,” while challenging the safety level of both locales and suggesting that games could be removed.

FIFA Response

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

“It is our competition, FIFA’s jurisdiction, the organization determines those decisions,” Montagliani declared. “Politely to current world leaders, soccer is transcends them and football will endure their tenure and their leadership. That’s the beauty of our game, that it is more significant than a single person and more important than any country.”

LA Games Warning

During the event, Trump’s reply to a inquiry about Boston veered into a similar threat regarding the upcoming Summer Games.

“In case I perceived LA was failing to be adequately ready, I'd relocate it to another location as needed,” he remarked. “Regarding that event I might have to obtain a alternative approval, but we'd take that action.”

Official consent Trump mentioned would must come via the IOC. Their leader, the newly elected president, was elected to her position in this year and has not yet meet publicly with Trump, though she stated that she desires a meeting with Trump at some point.

Further Comments

He also questioned the state's leader Newsom’s response of the blazes, saying that a parallel incident could result in the relocation of the Olympics.

“When Newsom is uncooperative, we are going to have to be strict,” Trump commented.

His message was just as direct for the Massachusetts city.

“They better improve their situation,” he remarked. “That is my message.”