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Ex-president Trump has once again stated he would influence FIFA to pull upcoming World Cup games from a designated city based on municipal politics, with the Boston region becoming the latest such city to receive such warnings from the US president. Furthermore, Trump suggested he would contemplate parallel steps against LA for the 2028 Olympics due to potential safety issues.

Legal Authority and Possible Pressure

Even though Trump does not have formal power to directly relocate either tournament, he can apply pressure the international organizations managing each event to change venues.

Context of Remarks

His statements were made during a media briefing with Argentina's leader Milei, who was present in the White House following the announcement of a massive rescue package for the Argentine economy. Toward the end of the event, a journalist inquired Trump about a recent public disturbance in Boston where police officers were assaulted and a police vehicle was set on fire. The journalist also wondered if such events could cause the revocation of organizing rights for the expanded World Cup.

“We could take them away,” Trump stated about the World Cup fixtures, scheduled to be held at the Foxborough venue. “She is not good … she is extremist, and they are dominating areas of downtown. That’s a significant statement, right?”

Street Takeovers and Political Context

Unauthorized gatherings, a social media-driven occurrence where participants congregate on city streets during nighttime to engage in dangerous driving, have been a frequent nuisance in US urban areas since the lockdown closures. Latest incidents have escalated into violence in the region, including Boston. However, these gatherings are typically not seen as associated with any specific ideological group.

“If a mayor is performing poorly, and I believe there’s security risks, I will call the organization's president, who is outstanding, and suggest let’s move it to a different city,” he said on Tuesday. “He'd do that. He may not enjoy doing it, but he’d do it. Very easily, he'd comply.”

FIFA Relationship

The organization's head has made no secret his attempts to be closely connected with the US leader ahead of the 2026 event, scheduled to be organized in numerous American venues across the United States along with a couple in the northern neighbor and three in the southern neighbor. The organization's leader has participated at multiple White House functions, facilitated Trump present the club tournament award after the concluding game, and has even postponed his FIFA's internal meeting to join Trump on a trip to the Arab region previously.

Earlier Warnings

Despite this, Trump from warning about the removal of World Cup events from additional American venues. On September 25, Seattle and the Bay Area metropolis were comparable comments, with Trump claiming both locations were “led by far-left extremists who don’t know what they’re doing,” while criticizing the safety level of both locales and suggesting that games could be shifted.

FIFA Response

Victor Montagliani dismissed Trump’s assertions when he responded days later at a event in the UK capital.

“This is the organization's event, our responsibility, the organization determines these matters,” he stated. “Respectfully to sitting presidents, soccer is transcends them and football will outlast their tenure and their leadership. That’s the strength of our game, that it is bigger than any individual and bigger than individual states.”

Olympics Threat

During the event, Trump’s reply to a query about the Massachusetts city included a similar threat regarding the LA Olympic event.

“In case I believed Los Angeles was not going to be prepared properly, I will shift it to a different city if necessary,” he remarked. “Regarding that event I may have to obtain a different kind of approval, but we would proceed.”

The permission Trump mentioned would have to come through the Olympic governing body. The head, the newly elected president, was selected to her post in spring and has so far not meet publicly with the former president, though she indicated that she hopes for a sit-down with the US figure at a future time.

Further Comments

The former president also criticized the state's leader Newsom’s response of recent blazes, remarking that a similar situation could lead to the cancellation of the event.

“When Newsom doesn’t play ball, we will have to be strict,” the former president stated.

His message was equally unambiguous for the Massachusetts city.

“Boston must clean up their act,” he said. “It's I will say.”