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Ex-president Trump has repeatedly stated he would influence FIFA to pull global soccer tournament games from a designated city based on the local governance, with the Boston region becoming the latest urban area to encounter such threats from the US president. Furthermore, Trump indicated he would consider parallel steps against Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Games due to possible public safety risks.

Official Power and Informal Leverage

Although Trump holds no formal power to unilaterally remove either event, he can lobby the organizing committees overseeing each competition to change host cities.

Background of Comments

The remarks were made during a news conference with Javier Milei, who was at the executive mansion following the announcement of a multibillion-dollar bailout for the South American country. At the close of the meeting, a media member asked Trump about a latest “street takeover” in the city where law enforcement were attacked and a patrol car was burned. The journalist also questioned if the situation could lead to the removal of hosting duties for the larger soccer tournament.

“It's possible to take them away,” Trump stated about the soccer matches, scheduled to be held at the Massachusetts arena. “Their mayor is poor … she is extremist, and they’re occupying sections of downtown. That’s a pretty big statement, isn't it?”

Street Takeovers and Political Context

Unauthorized gatherings, a social media-driven phenomenon where large crowds congregate on public avenues after dark to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have been a ongoing nuisance in US urban areas since the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. Latest incidents have become aggressive in the state, notably in Boston. Yet, these events are usually not seen as associated with any distinct partisan agenda.

“In cases where a mayor is doing a bad job, and I believe there are dangerous circumstances, I'd call Gianni [Infantino], who is excellent, and suggest it should be shifted to a different city,” Trump stated during the event. “And he would do that. He might not prefer the action, but he’d do it. Very easily, he'd comply.”

Political Connections

Gianni Infantino has publicly acknowledged his efforts to be visibly associated with the US leader prior to the upcoming World Cup, planned to be staged in multiple US locations across the America along with a couple in the northern neighbor and three in the southern neighbor. The FIFA president has participated at multiple Oval Office functions, facilitated Trump hand over the Club World Cup trophy after the concluding game, and has even delayed his the group's assembly to accompany Trump on a visit to the Gulf states earlier in 2025.

Past Statements

Despite this, Trump from threatening the cancellation of World Cup games from other US host cities. Recently, the Washington city and San Francisco faced similar criticism, with Trump stating both urban centers were “run by radical left lunatics who lack understanding what they’re doing,” while questioning the safety level of both locales and implying that events could be shifted.

FIFA Response

FIFA vice-president Montagliani dismissed Trump’s statements when he commented days later at a conference in the UK capital.

“It is FIFA’s tournament, our responsibility, we decide such choices,” Montagliani stated. “Politely to current world leaders, football is more important than political figures and the game will endure their regime and their leadership. That is the beauty of this sport, that it is bigger than any individual and bigger than any country.”

2028 Comments

On Tuesday, Trump’s reply to a inquiry about the Massachusetts city included a similar threat regarding the LA Olympic event.

“If I perceived LA was not prepared properly, I'd move it to a different city if I had to,” he remarked. “Regarding that event I might have to get a different kind of permission, but we would do that.”

Official consent Trump alluded to would need to come via the Olympic governing body. Their leader, Kirsty Coventry, was selected to her role in spring and has so far not appear together with the former president, though she stated that she would like a sit-down with the US figure at eventually.

Further Comments

Trump also questioned the state's leader Newsom’s management of this year’s LA wildfires, remarking that a parallel incident could cause the relocation of the Games.

“When Newsom doesn’t play ball, we are going to have to be firm,” he stated.

The warning was similarly unambiguous for Boston.

“Boston should clean up their act,” he remarked. “That’s all I can say.”