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Ex-president Trump has once again declared he would urge FIFA to pull 2026 World Cup matches from a venue based on municipal political climate, with the Boston region becoming the most recent such city to face such threats from the US president. Additionally, Trump indicated he would consider parallel steps against LA for the 2028 Olympics due to possible security concerns.

Jurisdictional Limits and Potential Influence

Although Trump holds no formal power to unilaterally remove either event, he may apply pressure the international organizations overseeing each tournament to shift locations.

Setting for Statements

The remarks were made during a media briefing with Argentinian president Milei, who was present in the White House following the revelation of a $20 billion rescue package for the Argentine country. Toward the close of the event, a media member inquired Trump about a current unauthorized gathering in Boston where police officers were attacked and a cruiser was burned. The journalist also questioned if these incidents could result in the removal of hosting duties for the expanded soccer tournament.

“We could take them away,” Trump stated about the World Cup games, set to be staged at Gillette Stadium. “She is ineffective … she’s extremist, and activists are dominating sections of Boston. It's a significant statement, right?”

Urban Disturbances and Ideological Perceptions

Unauthorized gatherings, a social media-driven phenomenon where groups of people gather on city streets late at night to engage in dangerous driving, have been a repeated problem in US urban areas since the lockdown restrictions. Current such gatherings have turned violent in the region, specifically in Boston. However, these events are generally not seen as tied to any particular partisan agenda.

“If a mayor is performing poorly, and I perceive exist unsafe conditions, I will call the FIFA head, who is excellent, and suggest it should be shifted to another location,” the former president commented on Tuesday. “He will do that. He might not prefer to do it, but he'd agree. Very easily, he would.”

FIFA Relationship

Gianni Infantino has publicly acknowledged his attempts to be closely connected with Trump before the upcoming World Cup, planned to be hosted in 11 cities across the United States along with several in the northern neighbor and three in the southern neighbor. The FIFA president has participated at multiple Oval Office functions, facilitated Trump hand over the Club World Cup award after the concluding game, and has even rescheduled his FIFA's internal meeting to travel with Trump on a journey to the Gulf states earlier in 2025.

Earlier Warnings

Nevertheless, Trump from suggesting the cancellation of World Cup events from additional American venues. On September 25, Seattle and the Bay Area metropolis came under similar comments, with Trump claiming both cities were “governed by radical left lunatics who are clueless what they are doing,” while challenging the security conditions of both cities and implying that matches could be removed.

FIFA Response

FIFA vice-president Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s claims when he responded days later at a conference in London.

“It’s FIFA’s tournament, under our authority, the organization determines such choices,” the vice-president declared. “Respectfully to national heads, the sport is transcends them and soccer will outlast their tenure and their policies. That is the essence of this sport, that it is more significant than one leader and more important than individual states.”

LA Games Warning

On Tuesday, Trump’s response to a question about Boston included a similar threat regarding the LA Olympic event.

“When I perceived Los Angeles was failing to be sufficiently organized, I would shift it to an alternate venue if I had to,” he remarked. “On that one I’d probably have to get a alternative consent, but we'd do that.”

Any approval Trump refers to would have to come from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Their president, the newly elected president, was chosen to her post in this year and has yet to hold a public appearance with Trump, though she stated that she would like a meeting with the US figure at some point.

Further Comments

The former president also questioned Gavin Newsom’s management of this year’s blazes, stating that a similar situation could lead to the removal of the event.

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

The warning was equally direct for Boston.

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