🔗 Share this article

Former President Trump has yet again announced he would urge FIFA to relocate 2026 World Cup matches from a host city based on that city's governance, with Boston becoming the most recent targeted location to encounter such statements from the American leader. Furthermore, Trump remarked he would consider comparable measures against Southern California for the 2028 Summer Games due to potential safety issues.

Jurisdictional Limits and Informal Leverage

While Trump lacks official jurisdiction to unilaterally remove either event, he is able to lobby the respective governing bodies overseeing each event to shift locations.

Background of Comments

The remarks were made during a press event with Argentina's leader Milei, who was at the White House following the revelation of a multibillion-dollar financial assistance for the South American country. Near the conclusion of the gathering, a reporter questioned Trump about a latest unauthorized gathering in downtown Boston where authorities were assaulted and a patrol car was set on fire. The correspondent also questioned if such events could cause the removal of tournament responsibilities for the expanded World Cup.

“It's possible to take them away,” the former president stated regarding the World Cup matches, scheduled to be staged at the Foxborough venue. “She is poor … she is radical left, and they’re dominating areas of downtown. That’s a major claim, don't you think?”

Urban Disturbances and Political Context

Public disruptions, a online-fueled phenomenon where large crowds gather on city streets during nighttime to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have been a ongoing nuisance in metropolitan centers since the coronavirus closures. Current incidents have turned violent in the region, notably in downtown. Yet, these occurrences are usually not considered tied to any specific ideological group.

“In cases where a mayor is doing a bad job, and I believe there are unsafe conditions, I'd call the organization's president, who is outstanding, and tell him let’s move it to a different city,” Trump commented on Tuesday. “He will do that. He may not enjoy doing it, but he would comply. Without hesitation, he’d do it.”

Organizational Alignment

Gianni Infantino has been open his strategies to be publicly aligned with the former president prior to the 2026 event, set to be staged in numerous American venues across the US along with two in the northern neighbor and a few in the southern neighbor. The FIFA president has participated at multiple presidential functions, arranged for Trump hand over the club tournament cup after the championship match, and has even rescheduled his the group's assembly to join Trump on a visit to the Arab region earlier in 2025.

Past Statements

Despite this, Trump from threatening the removal of World Cup events from other US host cities. In late September, Seattle and San Francisco faced comparable statements, with Trump asserting both locations were “run by radical left lunatics who are clueless what they are doing,” while questioning the safety level of both locales and claiming that matches could be shifted.

FIFA Response

Victor Montagliani rejected Trump’s statements when he responded afterward at a event in the UK capital.

“It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction, FIFA makes those decisions,” Montagliani said. “With all due respect to sitting presidents, the sport is transcends any individual and football will survive their tenure and their leadership. That’s the strength of football, that it is transcends any individual and beyond a nation.”

Olympics Threat

Similarly, Trump’s reply to a query about Boston included a comparable warning regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“If I thought Los Angeles was not going to be adequately ready, I would relocate it to an alternate venue if I had to,” he said. “Regarding that event I might have to secure a different kind of consent, but we'd take that action.”

The permission Trump alluded to would need to come through the Olympic governing body. The president, Kirsty Coventry, was selected to her post in this year and has not yet hold a public appearance with him, though she said that she desires a discussion with Trump at eventually.

Additional Criticism

He also condemned Gavin Newsom’s response of recent blazes, remarking that a parallel incident could cause the relocation of the event.

“If the governor refuses to cooperate, we’re gonna have to be strict,” he commented.

His message was equally clear for the Massachusetts city.

“They should improve their situation,” he said. “That is I can say.”