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Donald Trump has yet again declared he would urge FIFA to pull upcoming World Cup events from a host city based on municipal governance, with Boston emerging as the most recent targeted location to encounter such warnings from the US president. Additionally, Trump suggested he would evaluate similar action against Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Games due to possible public safety risks.

Jurisdictional Limits and Possible Pressure

Although Trump does not have direct legal authority to personally cancel either competition, he can apply pressure the organizing committees in charge of each tournament to move host cities.

Background of Comments

The statements were made during a news conference with Argentina's leader Milei, who was at the executive mansion following the announcement of a $20 billion rescue package for the Latin American country. Near the end of the event, a reporter inquired Trump about a recent “street takeover” in downtown Boston where police officers were targeted and a police vehicle was ignited. The journalist also wondered if such events could lead to the removal of tournament responsibilities for the larger World Cup.

“I would take them away,” Trump stated about the World Cup games, planned to be hosted at the Massachusetts arena. “The city's leader is not good … she’s extremist, and they are occupying parts of the city. That is a significant assertion, isn't it?”

Urban Disturbances and Public Safety Concerns

Unauthorized gatherings, a social media-driven occurrence where groups of people gather on urban roads late at night to perform stunts, have become a repeated nuisance in American cities since the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. Latest similar events have escalated into violence in the state, specifically in downtown. However, these occurrences are generally not seen as associated with any distinct partisan agenda.

“In cases where someone is failing, and I feel there’s unsafe conditions, I'd call the FIFA head, who is excellent, and suggest we should relocate it to a different city,” the former president commented during the event. “And he would do that. He may not enjoy to do it, but he would comply. Very easily, he’d do it.”

Political Connections

Gianni Infantino has been open his attempts to be visibly associated with the former president ahead of the 2026 event, scheduled to be hosted in numerous American venues across the US along with two in the northern neighbor and multiple in the southern neighbor. The head has participated at several Oval Office functions, arranged for Trump hand over the club tournament award after the championship match, and has even delayed his FIFA's internal meeting to accompany Trump on a journey to the Gulf states earlier in 2025.

Past Statements

Nevertheless, Trump from suggesting the cancellation of World Cup matches from different locations. In late September, the Washington city and San Francisco came under similar comments, with Trump claiming both urban centers were “led by far-left extremists who don’t know what they are doing,” while questioning the public safety of both locales and suggesting that matches could be removed.

Official Rebuttal

FIFA vice-president Montagliani dismissed Trump’s statements when he commented days later at a conference in the UK capital.

“It is the organization's event, under our authority, we decide such choices,” the vice-president said. “Respectfully to sitting presidents, the sport is transcends political figures and the game will survive their regime and their leadership. That is the strength of football, that it is bigger than any individual and bigger than any country.”

2028 Comments

On Tuesday, Trump’s answer to a inquiry about Boston extended to a parallel statement regarding the LA Olympic event.

“If I thought LA was not sufficiently organized, I will move it to an alternate venue if I had to,” he said. “Regarding that event I’d probably have to secure a varying permission, but we would proceed.”

Official consent Trump mentioned would have to come through the IOC. The head, Kirsty Coventry, was chosen to her post in this year and has not yet appear together with him, but she indicated that she would like a discussion with Trump at some point.

Additional Criticism

The former president also condemned the state's leader Newsom’s handling of the LA wildfires, stating that a similar situation could lead to the removal of the event.

“In case the governor doesn’t play ball, we are going to have to be very tough,” he said.

The warning was similarly unambiguous for the Massachusetts city.

“Boston better address these issues,” Trump stated. “That’s all I can say.”