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Former President Trump has repeatedly announced he would pressure FIFA to relocate upcoming World Cup events from a venue based on municipal politics, with Boston becoming the third targeted location to receive such threats from the American leader. Furthermore, Trump indicated he would contemplate comparable measures against Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Games due to potential security concerns.

Legal Authority and Possible Pressure

While Trump does not have formal power to directly relocate either tournament, he can apply pressure the respective governing bodies overseeing each competition to shift venues.

Setting for Statements

The remarks were made during a press event with Javier Milei, who was at the executive mansion following the disclosure of a multibillion-dollar financial assistance for the Latin American economy. Near the end of the gathering, a reporter questioned Trump about a recent unauthorized gathering in Boston where law enforcement were targeted and a police vehicle was burned. The reporter also asked if such events could cause the removal of tournament responsibilities for the expanded World Cup.

“I would take them away,” he remarked about the soccer games, scheduled to be hosted at Gillette Stadium. “Their mayor is not good … she’s radical left, and activists are occupying areas of downtown. It's a pretty big claim, don't you think?”

Street Takeovers and Public Safety Concerns

Public disruptions, a online-fueled trend where participants gather on city streets after dark to perform stunts, have been a frequent issue in American cities since the coronavirus restrictions. Current similar events have escalated into violence in the state, specifically in Boston. Yet, these occurrences are usually not seen as tied to any distinct political ideology.

“If a mayor is doing a bad job, and I feel there are dangerous circumstances, I'd call the organization's president, who is excellent, and suggest let’s move it to another location,” the former president said during the event. “And he would do that. He might not prefer the action, but he would comply. Very easily, he'd comply.”

FIFA Relationship

FIFA President has publicly acknowledged his strategies to be closely connected with the former president ahead of the upcoming World Cup, scheduled to be staged in multiple US locations across the US along with several in the northern neighbor and a few in Mexico. The FIFA president has appeared at several presidential events, had Trump present the Club World Cup award after the championship match, and has even delayed his the group's assembly to accompany Trump on a journey to the Arab region earlier in 2025.

Previous Threats

Despite this, Trump from warning about the cancellation of soccer events from additional American venues. Recently, Seattle and the Bay Area metropolis were parallel statements, with Trump claiming both locations were “governed by ideological activists who lack understanding what they are doing,” while criticizing the public safety of both locales and implying that events could be shifted.

FIFA Response

The organization's deputy Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s statements when he commented afterward at a conference in the UK capital.

“This is our competition, our responsibility, FIFA makes these matters,” Montagliani stated. “With all due respect to sitting presidents, soccer is transcends any individual and the game will survive their regime and their leadership. That’s the essence of this sport, that it is bigger than any individual and more important than individual states.”

2028 Comments

On Tuesday, Trump’s reply to a query about Boston veered into a similar threat regarding the LA Olympic event.

“If I believed LA was failing to be prepared properly, I will relocate it to a different city if I had to,” Trump stated. “On that one I may have to obtain a varying consent, but we will proceed.”

Any approval Trump mentioned would must come from the IOC. The leader, the newly elected president, was chosen to her role in spring and has yet to meet publicly with him, but she indicated that she hopes for a discussion with the US figure at some point.

Other Remarks

He also criticized California governor Newsom’s response of recent blazes, remarking that a comparable scenario could lead to the relocation of the Olympics.

“If Newsom doesn’t play ball, we’re gonna have to be very tough,” the former president commented.

His message was just as clear for the Massachusetts city.

“Boston better address these issues,” he said. “That’s all I will say.”