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Ex-president Trump has repeatedly stated he would influence FIFA to relocate upcoming World Cup matches from a designated city based on municipal political climate, with Boston emerging as the third such city to face such statements from the US president. Moreover, Trump indicated he would consider parallel steps against LA for the upcoming Olympic Games due to perceived public safety risks.

Official Power and Informal Leverage

Although Trump does not have direct legal authority to unilaterally remove either tournament, he is able to exert influence the international organizations in charge of each event to shift host cities.

Context of Remarks

The comments were made during a press event with Argentinian president Milei, who was at the White House following the announcement of a $20 billion bailout for the Latin American country. Toward the close of the event, a reporter asked Trump about a recent public disturbance in downtown Boston where police officers were targeted and a police vehicle was ignited. The correspondent also questioned if these incidents could lead to the removal of hosting duties for the 48-team soccer tournament.

“It's possible to take them away,” Trump stated concerning the World Cup matches, planned to be hosted at Gillette Stadium. “The city's leader is not good … she is extremist, and activists are dominating parts of the city. That’s a pretty big assertion, don't you think?”

Public Gatherings and Public Safety Concerns

Unauthorized gatherings, a social media-driven trend where participants assemble on city streets after dark to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have been a ongoing problem in American cities since the Covid-19 pandemic closures. Latest incidents have escalated into violence in Massachusetts, specifically in downtown. Nevertheless, these events are generally not seen as associated with any specific ideological group.

“If someone is doing a bad job, and I feel there are security risks, I will call the FIFA head, who is phenomenal, and tell him we should relocate it to another location,” the former president stated publicly. “He will do that. He may not enjoy to do it, but he would comply. Without hesitation, he'd comply.”

FIFA Relationship

The organization's head has made no secret his efforts to be visibly associated with the US leader prior to the upcoming World Cup, set to be staged in multiple US locations across the US along with two in Canada and a few in the southern neighbor. The head has been present at several Oval Office gatherings, arranged for Trump hand over the Club World Cup award after the championship match, and has even delayed his own organization’s congress to travel with Trump on a visit to the Gulf states this year.

Previous Threats

Despite this, Trump from threatening the relocation of World Cup games from additional American venues. Recently, Seattle and San Francisco faced comparable criticism, with Trump stating both locations were “governed by far-left extremists who are clueless what they are doing,” while questioning the public safety of both areas and claiming that games could be relocated.

Official Rebuttal

Victor Montagliani rejected Trump’s claims when he responded afterward at a event in England.

“This is the organization's event, our responsibility, we decide those decisions,” Montagliani stated. “Respectfully to current world leaders, football is bigger than them and the game will survive their tenure and their government. That is the strength of this sport, that it is more significant than a single person and more important than a nation.”

2028 Comments

On Tuesday, Trump’s answer to a query about the Massachusetts city included a comparable warning regarding the LA Olympic event.

“When I believed LA was failing to be prepared properly, I will shift it to a different city if I had to,” Trump stated. “On that one I’d probably have to obtain a different kind of permission, but we would do that.”

The permission Trump mentioned would need to come from the IOC. Their head, Kirsty Coventry, was selected to her post in this year and has not yet hold a public appearance with him, although she stated that she hopes for a discussion with Trump at some point.

Further Comments

He also condemned Gavin Newsom’s handling of this year’s LA wildfires, stating that a parallel incident could lead to the relocation of the Games.

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

The warning was just as unambiguous for Boston.

“They should address these issues,” Trump stated. “It's my message.”