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Former President Trump has repeatedly announced he would urge FIFA to pull global soccer tournament events from a host city based on that city's political climate, with the Boston region now being the latest such city to receive such warnings from the White House. Moreover, Trump remarked he would contemplate similar action against Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Games due to possible public safety risks.

Legal Authority and Possible Pressure

While Trump holds no official jurisdiction to personally cancel either tournament, he may exert influence the respective governing bodies in charge of each event to change venues.

Context of Remarks

The statements were made during a press event with Argentina's leader Milei, who was visiting the White House following the announcement of a massive bailout for the Argentine economy. Near the conclusion of the event, a reporter inquired Trump about a recent unauthorized gathering in the city where law enforcement were targeted and a patrol car was burned. The correspondent also asked if such events could lead to the loss of tournament responsibilities for the larger World Cup.

“It's possible to take them away,” he remarked regarding the World Cup matches, planned to be hosted at Gillette Stadium. “The city's leader is poor … she is extremist, and activists are occupying sections of downtown. That is a major claim, isn't it?”

Public Gatherings and Political Context

Public disruptions, a digitally organized trend where groups of people gather on public avenues late at night to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have been a ongoing nuisance in American cities since the Covid-19 pandemic closures. Recent such gatherings have escalated into violence in Massachusetts, specifically in the city. Nevertheless, these occurrences are generally not regarded as associated with any distinct partisan agenda.

“In cases where someone is failing, and I perceive there’s dangerous circumstances, I will call the organization's president, who is outstanding, and suggest let’s move it to another location,” the former president said during the event. “And he would do that. He wouldn’t love the action, but he would comply. Readily, he would.”

Organizational Alignment

FIFA President has made no secret his attempts to be publicly aligned with the US leader ahead of next year’s tournament, set to be organized in numerous American venues across the US along with a couple in Canada and a few in Mexico. The FIFA president has been present at multiple White House events, arranged for Trump hand over the Club World Cup trophy after that tournament’s final, and has even delayed his the group's assembly to accompany Trump on a journey to the Gulf states earlier in 2025.

Previous Threats

Nevertheless, Trump from warning about the removal of World Cup games from additional American venues. Recently, the Washington city and the Bay Area metropolis faced comparable criticism, with Trump claiming both urban centers were “governed by far-left extremists who don’t know what they're managing,” while criticizing the safety level of both cities and implying that events could be shifted.

FIFA Response

The organization's deputy Montagliani rejected Trump’s assertions when he reacted days later at a gathering in England.

“It is FIFA’s tournament, our responsibility, the organization determines such choices,” Montagliani declared. “With all due respect to current world leaders, the sport is more important than any individual and the game will survive their tenure and their leadership. That is the essence of our game, that it is bigger than a single person and beyond a nation.”

2028 Comments

During the event, Trump’s answer to a question about the Massachusetts city extended to a parallel statement regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“In case I thought Los Angeles was failing to be sufficiently organized, I will relocate it to another location if necessary,” he said. “Regarding that event I may have to get a alternative approval, but we will take that action.”

Official consent Trump alluded to would have to come from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Their president, the newly elected president, was chosen to her role in spring and has so far not appear together with him, although she stated that she desires a meeting with Trump at eventually.

Further Comments

He also criticized Gavin Newsom’s management of the California fires, saying that a parallel incident could cause the relocation of the Games.

“When Newsom is uncooperative, we’re gonna have to be firm,” he stated.

His statement was just as clear for the Massachusetts city.

“They better address these issues,” Trump stated. “That is my message.”