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Ex-president Trump has yet again declared he would urge FIFA to pull upcoming World Cup events from a designated city based on the local politics, with Massachusetts becoming the third urban area to encounter such statements from the American leader. Furthermore, Trump suggested he would evaluate parallel steps against Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympics due to perceived public safety risks.

Official Power and Informal Leverage

While Trump holds no formal power to personally cancel either event, he can exert influence the organizing committees in charge of each event to move host cities.

Context of Remarks

These comments were made during a media briefing with Argentinian president Milei, who was visiting the presidential residence following the announcement of a massive rescue package for the Argentine country. Near the close of the meeting, a media member questioned Trump about a recent public disturbance in the city where authorities were attacked and a patrol car was ignited. The reporter also questioned if the situation could lead to the removal of organizing rights for the expanded World Cup.

“It's possible to take them away,” he said about the World Cup matches, set to be held at Gillette Stadium. “The city's leader is ineffective … she’s far-left, and they are dominating sections of Boston. It's a pretty big claim, don't you think?”

Public Gatherings and Public Safety Concerns

Unauthorized gatherings, a social media-driven occurrence where large crowds congregate on public avenues after dark to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have been a repeated problem in US urban areas since the Covid-19 pandemic shutdowns. Latest incidents have escalated into violence in Massachusetts, specifically in Boston. Yet, these events are usually not considered linked to any particular political ideology.

“When someone is failing, and I believe there’s dangerous circumstances, I'd call the organization's president, who is phenomenal, and suggest let’s move it to an alternate venue,” he stated publicly. “And he would do that. He may not enjoy the action, but he'd agree. Without hesitation, he'd comply.”

Political Connections

FIFA President has been open his strategies to be closely connected with Trump before the 2026 event, scheduled to be staged in 11 cities across the America along with a couple in Canada and a few in Mexico. The head has appeared at various White House functions, facilitated Trump present the FIFA club award after the championship match, and has even rescheduled his the group's assembly to join Trump on a visit to the Arab region earlier in 2025.

Past Statements

This has not stopped, Trump from suggesting the relocation of soccer games from additional American venues. On September 25, Seattle and San Francisco were parallel statements, with Trump asserting both urban centers were “run by ideological activists who are clueless what they are doing,” while criticizing the security conditions of both areas and implying that matches could be relocated.

Organizational Statement

FIFA vice-president Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s assertions when he commented afterward at a event in the UK capital.

“It is FIFA’s tournament, our responsibility, we decide these matters,” the vice-president declared. “Politely to national heads, football is transcends political figures and soccer will survive their administration and their policies. That’s the essence of our game, that it is bigger than any individual and more important than a nation.”

Olympics Threat

Similarly, Trump’s reply to a question about Boston included a comparable warning regarding the LA Olympic event.

“In case I perceived LA was not going to be sufficiently organized, I would shift it to another location as needed,” Trump stated. “On that one I might have to get a alternative consent, but we will proceed.”

Official consent Trump mentioned would need to come through the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Their head, she, was chosen to her role in spring and has so far not meet publicly with the former president, although she stated that she desires a sit-down with Trump at eventually.

Other Remarks

He also questioned Gavin Newsom’s management of recent blazes, saying that a similar situation could result in the removal of the Games.

“If he refuses to cooperate, we will have to be strict,” the former president stated.

His message was similarly unambiguous for the Massachusetts city.

“The city must clean up their act,” he said. “That is my message.”