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Donald Trump has yet again stated he would pressure FIFA to relocate global soccer tournament events from a host city based on the local governance, with Massachusetts now being the latest such city to encounter such statements from the US president. Furthermore, Trump remarked he would contemplate similar action against Southern California for the 2028 Olympics due to possible security concerns.

Official Power and Informal Leverage

Although Trump does not have direct legal authority to directly relocate either competition, he may exert influence the international organizations in charge of each tournament to move host cities.

Setting for Statements

These remarks were made during a media briefing with Javier Milei, who was at the executive mansion following the revelation of a $20 billion financial assistance for the South American nation. At the end of the gathering, a media member inquired Trump about a current public disturbance in downtown Boston where law enforcement were targeted and a cruiser was burned. The correspondent also wondered if these incidents could result in the revocation of hosting duties for the larger World Cup.

“I would take them away,” the former president remarked concerning the soccer games, scheduled to be staged at the Foxborough venue. “The city's leader is not good … she is extremist, and activists are dominating parts of the city. It's a pretty big statement, don't you think?”

Urban Disturbances and Public Safety Concerns

Street takeovers, a social media-driven trend where participants gather on public avenues during nighttime to engage in dangerous driving, have been a repeated problem in metropolitan centers since the Covid-19 pandemic shutdowns. Current such gatherings have become aggressive in the region, including downtown. However, these gatherings are usually not seen as linked to any particular ideological group.

“If a mayor is doing a bad job, and I perceive there’s security risks, I would call the FIFA head, who is outstanding, and suggest let’s move it to an alternate venue,” the former president said publicly. “And he would do that. He might not prefer to do it, but he'd agree. Very easily, he would.”

Organizational Alignment

FIFA President has been open his attempts to be closely connected with Trump before the 2026 event, planned to be staged in multiple US locations across the US along with two in the northern neighbor and multiple in Mexico. The FIFA president has appeared at multiple presidential gatherings, facilitated Trump present the FIFA club cup after the championship match, and has even postponed his the group's assembly to accompany Trump on a trip to the Arab region this year.

Past Statements

Nevertheless, Trump from suggesting the relocation of soccer matches from additional American venues. In late September, Seattle and the Bay Area metropolis came under parallel statements, with Trump asserting both urban centers were “led by radical left lunatics who are clueless what they’re doing,” while challenging the public safety of both locales and implying that matches could be shifted.

Official Rebuttal

Victor Montagliani dismissed Trump’s statements when he commented afterward at a gathering in England.

“This is our competition, our responsibility, FIFA makes those decisions,” Montagliani said. “Respectfully to sitting presidents, football is bigger than political figures and football will endure their administration and their government. It's the beauty of this sport, that it is bigger than a single person and bigger than a nation.”

LA Games Warning

During the event, Trump’s answer to a question about Boston included a parallel statement regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“When I thought the city was not going to be prepared properly, I'd move it to an alternate venue if necessary,” he remarked. “On that one I might have to secure a different kind of permission, but we'd do that.”

Official consent Trump alluded to would must come through the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Their head, Kirsty Coventry, was selected to her role in March and has so far not hold a public appearance with the former president, though she stated that she hopes for a discussion with him at some point.

Other Remarks

Trump also criticized California governor Newsom’s response of this year’s blazes, saying that a similar situation could cause the relocation of the event.

“In case he refuses to cooperate, we’re gonna have to be firm,” he said.

His message was equally unambiguous for the Massachusetts city.

“Boston better clean up their act,” he said. “It's my message.”