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Ex-president Trump has once again declared he would pressure FIFA to pull 2026 World Cup events from a venue based on the local political climate, with Boston emerging as the third urban area to encounter such threats from the White House. Additionally, Trump indicated he would consider similar action against Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympics due to perceived security concerns.

Legal Authority and Informal Leverage

While Trump does not have formal power to personally cancel either event, he can lobby the international organizations overseeing each competition to shift host cities.

Setting for Statements

These statements were made during a press event with Argentinian president Milei, who was present in the White House following the disclosure of a massive bailout for the Argentine country. Toward the conclusion of the gathering, a journalist questioned Trump about a current unauthorized gathering in the city where authorities were targeted and a patrol car was burned. The correspondent also wondered if these incidents could lead to the loss of hosting duties for the larger soccer tournament.

“We could take them away,” the former president remarked regarding the World Cup games, scheduled to be held at the Massachusetts arena. “Their mayor is ineffective … they're extremist, and they are dominating parts of the city. That is a major assertion, isn't it?”

Street Takeovers and Ideological Perceptions

Public disruptions, a online-fueled phenomenon where groups of people gather on city streets late at night to perform stunts, have become a frequent nuisance in US urban areas since the Covid-19 pandemic shutdowns. Recent incidents have turned violent in the region, including downtown. Nevertheless, these gatherings are typically not regarded as tied to any specific partisan agenda.

“If someone is failing, and I believe there’s security risks, I would call Gianni [Infantino], who is phenomenal, and suggest we should relocate it to another location,” he commented during the event. “And he would do that. He may not enjoy doing it, but he would comply. Readily, he'd comply.”

Organizational Alignment

FIFA President has made no secret his strategies to be publicly aligned with Trump ahead of the 2026 event, set to be hosted in multiple US locations across the America along with two in Canada and multiple in the southern neighbor. The FIFA president has participated at various Oval Office gatherings, arranged for Trump deliver the FIFA club cup after the championship match, and has even delayed his the group's assembly to travel with Trump on a visit to the Gulf states this year.

Earlier Warnings

Nevertheless, Trump from threatening the cancellation of World Cup games from additional American venues. Recently, the Washington city and the Bay Area metropolis faced similar criticism, with Trump claiming both cities were “run by radical left lunatics who lack understanding what they are doing,” while criticizing the safety level of both locales and suggesting that matches could be relocated.

FIFA Response

FIFA vice-president Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s assertions when he responded afterward at a event in London.

“This is our competition, under our authority, FIFA makes these matters,” the vice-president said. “Respectfully to current world leaders, soccer is transcends political figures and football will endure their regime and their leadership. That’s the beauty of this sport, that it is more significant than one leader and beyond a nation.”

2028 Comments

On Tuesday, Trump’s answer to a question about Boston veered into a comparable warning regarding the LA Olympic event.

“If I perceived LA was failing to be sufficiently organized, I will shift it to another location if I had to,” Trump stated. “For the Olympics I may have to get a varying approval, but we'd do that.”

Official consent Trump refers to would have to come from the IOC. The president, Kirsty Coventry, was chosen to her position in March and has yet to meet publicly with the former president, though she said that she desires a meeting with him at a future time.

Other Remarks

The former president also questioned Gavin Newsom’s response of the blazes, saying that a parallel incident could lead to the removal of the Games.

“In case he doesn’t play ball, we will have to be very tough,” the former president stated.

His message was just as unambiguous for the Massachusetts city.

“The city better address these issues,” he remarked. “It's I can say.”