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Donald Trump has once again declared he would pressure FIFA to relocate global soccer tournament matches from a host city based on municipal governance, with the Boston region emerging as the third targeted location to face such threats from the White House. Moreover, Trump suggested he would evaluate similar action against LA for the 2028 Summer Games due to potential security concerns.

Jurisdictional Limits and Possible Pressure

While Trump does not have official jurisdiction to personally cancel either tournament, he may apply pressure the respective governing bodies overseeing each competition to change host cities.

Background of Comments

The statements were made during a media briefing with Argentina's leader Milei, who was present in the presidential residence following the disclosure of a $20 billion financial assistance for the South American economy. Toward the close of the meeting, a journalist inquired Trump about a current “street takeover” in the city where law enforcement were attacked and a police vehicle was burned. The journalist also asked if such events could lead to the loss of organizing rights for the expanded soccer tournament.

“It's possible to take them away,” he stated about the soccer fixtures, planned to be staged at the Foxborough venue. “She is poor … she is extremist, and they’re dominating areas of Boston. That’s a pretty big claim, don't you think?”

Public Gatherings and Ideological Perceptions

Unauthorized gatherings, a social media-driven trend where groups of people assemble on public avenues during nighttime to perform stunts, have become a ongoing problem in metropolitan centers since the Covid-19 pandemic closures. Current incidents have escalated into violence in the state, including Boston. Yet, these occurrences are usually not considered tied to any specific political ideology.

“When someone is doing a bad job, and I perceive exist dangerous circumstances, I will call Gianni [Infantino], who is excellent, and suggest we should relocate it to an alternate venue,” the former president said during the event. “And he would do that. He might not prefer the action, but he'd agree. Readily, he would.”

Organizational Alignment

FIFA President has been open his efforts to be visibly associated with Trump before the 2026 event, scheduled to be organized in 11 cities across the America along with two in Canada and three in the southern neighbor. The FIFA president has appeared at several Oval Office gatherings, had Trump present the FIFA club trophy after that tournament’s final, and has even postponed his the group's assembly to accompany Trump on a journey to the Middle East this year.

Earlier Warnings

This has not stopped, Trump from suggesting the relocation of soccer matches from different locations. On September 25, Seattle and San Francisco were parallel comments, with Trump asserting both cities were “governed by radical left lunatics who don’t know what they are doing,” while criticizing the public safety of both locales and implying that events could be shifted.

Official Rebuttal

The organization's deputy Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s claims when he responded afterward at a gathering in England.

“This is our competition, under our authority, we decide these matters,” he stated. “Politely to current world leaders, football is bigger than them and the game will outlast their tenure and their policies. It's the beauty of football, that it is more significant than any individual and beyond individual states.”

Olympics Threat

On Tuesday, Trump’s answer to a inquiry about the Massachusetts city extended to a similar threat regarding the upcoming Summer Games.

“If I perceived LA was not going to be prepared properly, I will move it to a different city as needed,” he remarked. “On that one I may have to obtain a alternative permission, but we will do that.”

Official consent Trump mentioned would have to come from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Their head, the newly elected president, was selected to her role in spring and has yet to hold a public appearance with him, though she said that she hopes for a sit-down with Trump at some point.

Further Comments

He also condemned Gavin Newsom’s handling of the LA wildfires, stating that a parallel incident could result in the cancellation of the Olympics.

“In case Newsom refuses to cooperate, we’re gonna have to be very tough,” Trump stated.

His statement was similarly clear for the Massachusetts city.

“They better address these issues,” he said. “That’s all my message.”