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Former President Trump has yet again declared he would pressure FIFA to relocate global soccer tournament matches from a host city based on the local politics, with Boston becoming the third such city to receive such threats from the White House. Moreover, Trump suggested he would evaluate similar action against Southern California for the 2028 Olympics due to perceived safety issues.

Legal Authority and Potential Influence

While Trump does not have direct legal authority to directly relocate either tournament, he may exert influence the organizing committees in charge of each tournament to move venues.

Background of Comments

His comments were made during a press event with Argentina's leader Milei, who was present in the White House following the revelation of a multibillion-dollar rescue package for the Argentine country. Toward the end of the meeting, a journalist inquired Trump about a recent public disturbance in the city where law enforcement were assaulted and a patrol car was ignited. The journalist also asked if these incidents could cause the revocation of tournament responsibilities for the larger World Cup.

“It's possible to take them away,” he said concerning the FIFA World Cup games, set to be staged at the Massachusetts arena. “She is ineffective … she’s radical left, and they’re dominating areas of downtown. That’s a major claim, right?”

Street Takeovers and Ideological Perceptions

Unauthorized gatherings, a social media-driven occurrence where participants gather on city streets after dark to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have been a ongoing nuisance in US urban areas since the lockdown shutdowns. Recent incidents have become aggressive in the region, specifically in the city. Yet, these events are usually not regarded as linked to any specific political ideology.

“If a mayor is failing, and I perceive exist unsafe conditions, I'd call the FIFA head, who is outstanding, and tell him let’s move it to an alternate venue,” Trump commented during the event. “He'd do that. He may not enjoy doing it, but he’d do it. Without hesitation, he'd comply.”

FIFA Relationship

Gianni Infantino has been open his strategies to be closely connected with the US leader prior to next year’s tournament, scheduled to be staged in 11 cities across the United States along with two in Canada and three in the southern neighbor. The FIFA president has participated at multiple Oval Office events, arranged for Trump deliver the FIFA club cup after the concluding game, and has even delayed his FIFA's internal meeting to travel with Trump on a trip to the Middle East earlier in 2025.

Earlier Warnings

Despite this, Trump from suggesting the removal of FIFA World Cup events from additional American venues. On September 25, Seattle and San Francisco were similar comments, with Trump asserting both locations were “governed by far-left extremists who don’t know what they are doing,” while challenging the safety level of both locales and suggesting that events could be removed.

Official Rebuttal

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

“It’s FIFA’s tournament, under our authority, the organization determines those decisions,” the vice-president stated. “Respectfully to current world leaders, soccer is transcends political figures and the game will outlast their regime and their policies. That is the beauty of football, that it is transcends one leader and bigger than any country.”

2028 Comments

During the event, Trump’s response to a query about Boston veered into a comparable warning regarding the LA Olympic event.

“In case I thought LA was not sufficiently organized, I would relocate it to a different city if I had to,” he said. “For the Olympics I’d probably have to secure a different kind of approval, but we will take that action.”

The permission Trump refers to would need to come via the IOC. The head, the newly elected president, was selected to her post in spring and has not yet hold a public appearance with the former president, though she stated that she desires a discussion with him at eventually.

Additional Criticism

Trump also condemned the state's leader Newsom’s management of recent LA wildfires, stating that a parallel incident could cause the removal of the event.

“When the governor refuses to cooperate, we’re gonna have to be strict,” Trump commented.

His message was just as unambiguous for Boston.

“The city better address these issues,” Trump stated. “It's my message.”