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Former President Trump has repeatedly announced he would influence FIFA to relocate 2026 World Cup matches from a designated city based on the local politics, with Boston now being the latest such city to face such threats from the US president. Furthermore, Trump indicated he would consider comparable measures against LA for the upcoming Olympic Games due to perceived security concerns.

Jurisdictional Limits and Informal Leverage

Even though Trump holds no official jurisdiction to personally cancel either tournament, he is able to apply pressure the organizing committees in charge of each competition to change host cities.

Setting for Statements

His comments were made during a media briefing with Argentinian president Milei, who was present in the presidential residence following the announcement of a massive financial assistance for the South American economy. Near the conclusion of the gathering, a media member inquired Trump about a recent public disturbance in Boston where police officers were targeted and a police vehicle was set on fire. The reporter also asked if such events could result in the loss of tournament responsibilities for the expanded World Cup.

“We could take them away,” the former president stated concerning the World Cup fixtures, planned to be held at Gillette Stadium. “The city's leader is ineffective … they're extremist, and activists are occupying parts of the city. That is a significant claim, right?”

Street Takeovers and Political Context

Street takeovers, a digitally organized occurrence where large crowds congregate on city streets during nighttime to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have become a ongoing problem in US urban areas since the Covid-19 pandemic shutdowns. Latest similar events have become aggressive in the region, including the city. Yet, these gatherings are usually not considered tied to any specific partisan agenda.

“In cases where a mayor is doing a bad job, and I perceive exist unsafe conditions, I will call the organization's president, who is excellent, and say it should be shifted to a different city,” Trump said during the event. “And he would do that. He wouldn’t love doing it, but he'd agree. Readily, he’d do it.”

Organizational Alignment

FIFA President has made no secret his efforts to be visibly associated with the former president ahead of next year’s tournament, planned to be hosted in 11 cities across the America along with two in the northern neighbor and multiple in Mexico. The head has appeared at several Oval Office functions, arranged for Trump deliver the FIFA club trophy after the championship match, and has even postponed his own organization’s congress to accompany Trump on a journey to the Middle East previously.

Past Statements

Nevertheless, Trump from warning about the cancellation of soccer matches from different locations. On September 25, Seattle and San Francisco faced similar criticism, with Trump stating both cities were “run by radical left lunatics who lack understanding what they’re doing,” while criticizing the safety level of both areas and claiming that matches could be relocated.

Organizational Statement

Victor Montagliani rejected Trump’s claims when he commented afterward at a gathering in the UK capital.

“It’s the organization's event, FIFA’s jurisdiction, the organization determines these matters,” Montagliani declared. “With all due respect to sitting presidents, the sport is bigger than political figures and soccer will survive their regime and their government. That is the strength of this sport, that it is transcends a single person and beyond a nation.”

2028 Comments

During the event, Trump’s response to a query about Boston extended to a similar threat regarding the upcoming Summer Games.

“In case I believed LA was not going to be sufficiently organized, I would move it to another location as needed,” Trump stated. “On that one I might have to secure a different kind of permission, but we'd proceed.”

The permission Trump mentioned would have to come via the Olympic governing body. Their president, the newly elected president, was selected to her position in March and has so far not hold a public appearance with him, although she stated that she would like a sit-down with Trump at some point.

Additional Criticism

He also questioned California governor Newsom’s handling of this year’s blazes, saying that a similar situation could result in the cancellation of the event.

“When the governor doesn’t play ball, we will have to be very tough,” Trump stated.

His statement was just as unambiguous for Boston.

“The city better improve their situation,” he said. “That’s all I can say.”