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Ex-president Trump has repeatedly declared he would influence FIFA to remove upcoming World Cup games from a designated city based on municipal politics, with Boston becoming the most recent targeted location to encounter such statements from the American leader. Moreover, Trump indicated he would contemplate similar action against Los Angeles for the upcoming Olympic Games due to potential safety issues.

Jurisdictional Limits and Informal Leverage

Even though Trump does not have direct legal authority to unilaterally remove either tournament, he may exert influence the respective governing bodies managing each event to move venues.

Setting for Statements

His comments were made during a press event with Javier Milei, who was at the executive mansion following the announcement of a multibillion-dollar bailout for the Argentine nation. At the end of the meeting, a media member questioned Trump about a latest unauthorized gathering in downtown Boston where authorities were targeted and a police vehicle was set on fire. The correspondent also asked if these incidents could result in the removal of tournament responsibilities for the expanded soccer tournament.

“It's possible to take them away,” Trump remarked about the World Cup games, set to be held at the Massachusetts arena. “She is ineffective … she is extremist, and they’re dominating parts of Boston. That’s a significant assertion, isn't it?”

Public Gatherings and Public Safety Concerns

Street takeovers, a social media-driven phenomenon where large crowds gather on public avenues after dark to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have become a ongoing issue in metropolitan centers since the Covid-19 pandemic closures. Recent incidents have escalated into violence in the region, notably in the city. Nevertheless, these events are typically not regarded as tied to any distinct partisan agenda.

“When someone is doing a bad job, and I perceive there are unsafe conditions, I would call Gianni [Infantino], who is phenomenal, and tell him we should relocate it to a different city,” he said on Tuesday. “And he would do that. He may not enjoy doing it, but he'd agree. Readily, he’d do it.”

Organizational Alignment

Gianni Infantino has publicly acknowledged his efforts to be closely connected with the former president ahead of the 2026 event, set to be organized in multiple US locations across the US along with a couple in Canada and multiple in the southern neighbor. The FIFA president has appeared at several presidential gatherings, arranged for Trump hand over the FIFA club cup after that tournament’s final, and has even postponed his the group's assembly to join Trump on a journey to the Middle East this year.

Previous Threats

Despite this, Trump from warning about the removal of World Cup games from different locations. Recently, the Washington city and the Bay Area metropolis were similar statements, with Trump stating both cities were “led by radical left lunatics who lack understanding what they’re doing,” while challenging the safety level of both locales and implying that matches could be shifted.

Organizational Statement

Victor Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s assertions when he reacted days later at a conference in England.

“It is our competition, under our authority, we decide these matters,” he said. “Politely to national heads, soccer is bigger than political figures and the game will outlast their regime and their leadership. That is the beauty of football, that it is bigger than a single person and beyond a nation.”

2028 Comments

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

“When I believed the city was not going to be adequately ready, I'd move it to a different city if I had to,” he said. “Regarding that event I may have to obtain a alternative permission, but we'd do that.”

The permission Trump mentioned would have to come from the IOC. The head, Kirsty Coventry, was chosen to her position in March and has so far not meet publicly with him, but she said that she would like a meeting with Trump at eventually.

Further Comments

The former president also criticized Gavin Newsom’s handling of the LA wildfires, stating that a comparable scenario could cause the cancellation of the Games.

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

His statement was equally direct for Boston.

“They must address these issues,” he remarked. “That’s all I will say.”