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Ex-president Trump has repeatedly declared he would influence FIFA to remove upcoming World Cup events from a host city based on that city's political climate, with Boston becoming the latest urban area to encounter such threats from the American leader. Additionally, Trump remarked he would evaluate similar action against Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Games due to perceived security concerns.

Jurisdictional Limits and Potential Influence

While Trump holds no formal power to directly relocate either event, he may exert influence the international organizations in charge of each tournament to move venues.

Setting for Statements

The remarks were made during a media briefing with Argentinian president Milei, who was at the executive mansion following the announcement of a $20 billion financial assistance for the South American nation. Toward the end of the meeting, a reporter asked Trump about a current public disturbance in downtown Boston where authorities were targeted and a police vehicle was burned. The journalist also asked if these incidents could result in the loss of organizing rights for the expanded soccer tournament.

“It's possible to take them away,” Trump remarked regarding the soccer matches, scheduled to be hosted at Gillette Stadium. “Their mayor is ineffective … they're radical left, and activists are occupying areas of downtown. That is a pretty big statement, don't you think?”

Public Gatherings and Political Context

Unauthorized gatherings, a digitally organized trend where groups of people assemble on public avenues after dark to perform stunts, have been a repeated nuisance in US urban areas since the coronavirus closures. Recent incidents have become aggressive in Massachusetts, including downtown. Yet, these occurrences are generally not seen as tied to any particular ideological group.

“If a mayor is performing poorly, and I believe there are security risks, I will call Gianni [Infantino], who is excellent, and say we should relocate it to a different city,” Trump commented during the event. “He will do that. He wouldn’t love the action, but he'd agree. Readily, he’d do it.”

Political Connections

Gianni Infantino has publicly acknowledged his strategies to be closely connected with the US leader before the upcoming World Cup, set to be hosted in multiple US locations across the United States along with a couple in Canada and multiple in Mexico. The FIFA president has participated at multiple White House events, facilitated Trump deliver the Club World Cup trophy after the championship match, and has even rescheduled his FIFA's internal meeting to travel with Trump on a visit to the Gulf states earlier in 2025.

Past Statements

Nevertheless, Trump from threatening the relocation of World Cup games from different locations. In late September, the Washington city and the Bay Area metropolis came under similar criticism, with Trump asserting both cities were “governed by radical left lunatics who don’t know what they are doing,” while challenging the security conditions of both locales and implying that events could be removed.

FIFA Response

Victor Montagliani rejected Trump’s claims when he commented days later at a event in England.

“It is FIFA’s tournament, under our authority, the organization determines these matters,” Montagliani said. “Respectfully to current world leaders, soccer is bigger than political figures and football will endure their administration and their leadership. That’s the strength of football, that it is bigger than a single person and beyond a nation.”

Olympics Threat

Similarly, Trump’s answer to a query about Boston included a parallel statement regarding the LA Olympic event.

“In case I thought Los Angeles was failing to be adequately ready, I'd move it to an alternate venue if I had to,” he remarked. “Regarding that event I’d probably have to get a alternative approval, but we'd do that.”

Any approval Trump alluded to would must come through the Olympic governing body. The leader, the newly elected president, was chosen to her post in March and has yet to meet publicly with Trump, though she stated that she hopes for a sit-down with Trump at eventually.

Further Comments

He also condemned California governor Newsom’s management of the California fires, saying that a comparable scenario could lead to the removal of the event.

“If the governor is uncooperative, we are going to have to be very tough,” the former president commented.

The warning was similarly unambiguous for the Massachusetts city.

“They should address these issues,” Trump stated. “That is I will say.”