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Donald Trump has repeatedly announced he would influence FIFA to relocate upcoming World Cup games from a designated city based on the local governance, with Boston emerging as the most recent targeted location to receive such threats from the US president. Additionally, Trump suggested he would contemplate comparable measures against LA for the upcoming Olympic Games due to possible safety issues.

Legal Authority and Informal Leverage

Even though Trump holds no direct legal authority to directly relocate either competition, he can apply pressure the international organizations in charge of each tournament to shift locations.

Context of Remarks

His comments were made during a press event with Argentina's leader Milei, who was visiting the presidential residence following the disclosure of a multibillion-dollar bailout for the Latin American nation. At the close of the gathering, a journalist questioned Trump about a current “street takeover” in the city where law enforcement were targeted and a patrol car was set on fire. The reporter also asked if these incidents could result in the removal of organizing rights for the 48-team football competition.

“I would take them away,” he stated regarding the FIFA World Cup fixtures, scheduled to be held at the Massachusetts arena. “Their mayor is ineffective … she is extremist, and activists are occupying sections of Boston. That is a significant claim, don't you think?”

Urban Disturbances and Political Context

Unauthorized gatherings, a digitally organized trend where groups of people congregate on public avenues during nighttime to perform stunts, have been a frequent problem in US urban areas since the coronavirus shutdowns. Recent incidents have turned violent in Massachusetts, notably in downtown. However, these occurrences are typically not considered linked to any particular partisan agenda.

“When a city is failing, and I perceive there’s security risks, I'd call the FIFA head, who is excellent, and tell him let’s move it to a different city,” he stated publicly. “And he would do that. He might not prefer to do it, but he would comply. Very easily, he’d do it.”

Political Connections

The organization's head has publicly acknowledged his strategies to be visibly associated with Trump ahead of next year’s tournament, set to be staged in 11 cities across the US along with several in Canada and a few in Mexico. The organization's leader has participated at several White House functions, facilitated Trump present the club tournament award after the championship match, and has even delayed his FIFA's internal meeting to accompany Trump on a trip to the Gulf states earlier in 2025.

Earlier Warnings

This has not stopped, Trump from threatening the cancellation of FIFA World Cup matches from additional American venues. Recently, Seattle and the Bay Area metropolis were comparable comments, with Trump claiming both locations were “run by far-left extremists who lack understanding what they’re doing,” while criticizing the security conditions of both areas and suggesting that games could be relocated.

FIFA Response

The organization's deputy Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s assertions when he commented days later at a conference in London.

“It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction, the organization determines these matters,” he said. “With all due respect to current world leaders, the sport is more important than them and football will endure their regime and their leadership. It's the strength of football, that it is more significant than any individual and beyond individual states.”

Olympics Threat

During the event, Trump’s answer to a inquiry about the Massachusetts city included a parallel statement regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“In case I believed Los Angeles was failing to be sufficiently organized, I would move it to a different city as needed,” Trump stated. “For the Olympics I may have to secure a alternative approval, but we'd do that.”

Any approval Trump refers to would have to come via the Olympic governing body. Their leader, the newly elected president, was selected to her post in spring and has yet to hold a public appearance with the former president, but she indicated that she desires a meeting with the US figure at a future time.

Further Comments

The former president also questioned Gavin Newsom’s handling of this year’s California fires, remarking that a comparable scenario could cause the relocation of the Olympics.

“When Newsom is uncooperative, we are going to have to be firm,” the former president said.

His message was equally clear for Boston.

“They better address these issues,” he remarked. “It's I will say.”