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Ex-president Trump has yet again stated he would pressure FIFA to pull upcoming World Cup matches from a designated city based on the local governance, with Massachusetts now being the latest urban area to encounter such threats from the US president. Additionally, Trump remarked he would contemplate similar action against Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympics due to potential safety issues.

Official Power and Possible Pressure

While Trump does not have direct legal authority to unilaterally remove either tournament, he is able to lobby the international organizations in charge of each competition to change venues.

Background of Comments

These remarks were made during a press event with Javier Milei, who was at the executive mansion following the revelation of a massive financial assistance for the South American economy. At the end of the meeting, a reporter questioned Trump about a recent “street takeover” in Boston where law enforcement were attacked and a cruiser was ignited. The reporter also asked if these incidents could result in the loss of tournament responsibilities for the larger World Cup.

“It's possible to take them away,” the former president remarked about the FIFA World Cup games, planned to be hosted at Gillette Stadium. “She is poor … she’s radical left, and they’re dominating areas of Boston. That’s a pretty big claim, isn't it?”

Street Takeovers and Public Safety Concerns

Unauthorized gatherings, a social media-driven phenomenon where participants gather on urban roads after dark to perform stunts, have been a ongoing nuisance in metropolitan centers since the coronavirus closures. Recent similar events have turned violent in the state, notably in the city. Yet, these gatherings are generally not considered associated with any particular ideological group.

“In cases where someone is doing a bad job, and I believe exist dangerous circumstances, I would call Gianni [Infantino], who is outstanding, and say let’s move it to a different city,” he stated publicly. “He will do that. He might not prefer to do it, but he’d do it. Very easily, he'd comply.”

FIFA Relationship

FIFA President has made no secret his attempts to be publicly aligned with the former president before the 2026 event, set to be hosted in multiple US locations across the United States along with a couple in the northern neighbor and a few in the southern neighbor. The organization's leader has participated at various White House events, arranged for Trump present the Club World Cup award after the concluding game, and has even postponed his the group's assembly to accompany Trump on a trip to the Arab region previously.

Earlier Warnings

Nevertheless, Trump from suggesting the relocation of soccer matches from additional American venues. Recently, Seattle and the Bay Area metropolis were similar criticism, with Trump asserting both locations were “governed by ideological activists who don’t know what they're managing,” while questioning the safety level of both locales and suggesting that games could be removed.

FIFA Response

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

“It’s our competition, FIFA’s jurisdiction, FIFA makes such choices,” Montagliani stated. “Politely to national heads, football is transcends them and the game will survive their administration and their leadership. That’s the essence of our game, that it is more significant than any individual and more important than individual states.”

LA Games Warning

Similarly, Trump’s reply to a query about Boston extended to a similar threat regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“If I thought the city was failing to be adequately ready, I would move it to a different city if I had to,” he remarked. “For the Olympics I might have to get a different kind of consent, but we'd do that.”

Any approval Trump mentioned would have to come from the Olympic governing body. The leader, Kirsty Coventry, was chosen to her role in March and has yet to hold a public appearance with the former president, but she said that she hopes for a discussion with the US figure at eventually.

Further Comments

Trump also condemned the state's leader Newsom’s response of recent LA wildfires, stating that a similar situation could lead to the removal of the Games.

“When the governor is uncooperative, we are going to have to be very tough,” he stated.

The warning was just as clear for Boston.

“Boston must improve their situation,” Trump stated. “That’s all I will say.”