🔗 Share this article

Ex-president Trump has yet again stated he would pressure FIFA to remove upcoming World Cup games from a designated city based on municipal political climate, with Massachusetts now being the latest targeted location to receive such warnings from the American leader. Additionally, Trump suggested he would consider similar action against Southern California for the 2028 Summer Games due to possible public safety risks.

Official Power and Informal Leverage

Although Trump holds no official jurisdiction to unilaterally remove either event, he is able to exert influence the organizing committees in charge of each competition to shift locations.

Setting for Statements

His remarks were made during a media briefing with Argentina's leader Milei, who was at the executive mansion following the revelation of a massive financial assistance for the South American nation. At the close of the gathering, a reporter asked Trump about a latest “street takeover” in downtown Boston where authorities were attacked and a police vehicle was ignited. The correspondent also questioned if these incidents could result in the loss of hosting duties for the larger soccer tournament.

“We could take them away,” he said about the FIFA World Cup matches, scheduled to be held at the Foxborough venue. “The city's leader is not good … they're radical left, and they’re dominating sections of the city. That’s a significant claim, don't you think?”

Public Gatherings and Public Safety Concerns

Public disruptions, a social media-driven trend where large crowds assemble on city streets late at night to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have emerged as a frequent issue in American cities since the lockdown shutdowns. Recent incidents have turned violent in Massachusetts, specifically in downtown. Nevertheless, these occurrences are generally not regarded as associated with any specific ideological group.

“If someone is performing poorly, and I feel there’s dangerous circumstances, I will call the FIFA head, who is outstanding, and say let’s move it to a different city,” he commented on Tuesday. “He will do that. He wouldn’t love to do it, but he’d do it. Without hesitation, he would.”

Organizational Alignment

Gianni Infantino has been open his attempts to be visibly associated with Trump prior to the 2026 event, scheduled to be hosted in multiple US locations across the US along with several in Canada and multiple in the southern neighbor. The organization's leader has been present at multiple presidential functions, had Trump deliver the club tournament award after the concluding game, and has even delayed his FIFA's internal meeting to travel with Trump on a trip to the Gulf states this year.

Earlier Warnings

Nevertheless, Trump from threatening the cancellation of soccer matches from other US host cities. In late September, Seattle and the Bay Area metropolis came under comparable criticism, with Trump stating both urban centers were “run by far-left extremists who don’t know what they're managing,” while challenging the public safety of both cities and implying that events could be removed.

Official Rebuttal

The organization's deputy Montagliani dismissed Trump’s claims when he commented subsequently at a event in the UK capital.

“It is FIFA’s tournament, our responsibility, the organization determines those decisions,” the vice-president stated. “Respectfully to national heads, the sport is transcends any individual and football will survive their regime and their policies. It's the beauty of this sport, that it is transcends a single person and bigger than a nation.”

Olympics Threat

Similarly, Trump’s answer to a question about the Massachusetts city extended to a similar threat regarding the LA Olympic event.

“In case I perceived the city was not going to be prepared properly, I would shift it to a different city if necessary,” he said. “Regarding that event I’d probably have to obtain a alternative consent, but we would do that.”

Any approval Trump mentioned would must come from the Olympic governing body. Their leader, she, was chosen to her position in this year and has not yet hold a public appearance with him, but she stated that she hopes for a sit-down with him at eventually.

Other Remarks

Trump also criticized Gavin Newsom’s management of this year’s LA wildfires, stating that a parallel incident could lead to the removal of the Games.

“If the governor refuses to cooperate, we will have to be very tough,” the former president commented.

The warning was similarly unambiguous for the Massachusetts city.

“Boston should improve their situation,” Trump stated. “That is I can say.”