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Former President Trump has repeatedly declared he would influence FIFA to pull 2026 World Cup games from a host city based on municipal politics, with Massachusetts now being the latest urban area to receive such warnings from the US president. Moreover, Trump suggested he would contemplate similar action against Southern California for the 2028 Summer Games due to perceived public safety risks.

Official Power and Potential Influence

Although Trump holds no formal power to personally cancel either competition, he is able to apply pressure the international organizations managing each tournament to shift venues.

Background of Comments

His statements were made during a news conference with Javier Milei, who was visiting the executive mansion following the disclosure of a $20 billion bailout for the South American economy. Toward the conclusion of the meeting, a reporter inquired Trump about a current public disturbance in downtown Boston where authorities were assaulted and a police vehicle was set on fire. The journalist also wondered if these incidents could cause the loss of hosting duties for the larger football competition.

“It's possible to take them away,” he stated concerning the FIFA World Cup fixtures, set to be held at the Foxborough venue. “The city's leader is poor … she is radical left, and they’re dominating parts of downtown. That’s a significant statement, don't you think?”

Public Gatherings and Political Context

Unauthorized gatherings, a digitally organized occurrence where large crowds gather on public avenues late at night to engage in dangerous driving, have become a frequent problem in US urban areas since the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. Current similar events have become aggressive in the region, notably in Boston. Yet, these occurrences are generally not seen as linked to any particular political ideology.

“When a mayor is failing, and I perceive exist security risks, I will call the FIFA head, who is outstanding, and say we should relocate it to another location,” Trump said publicly. “He will do that. He wouldn’t love doing it, but he would comply. Very easily, he would.”

Organizational Alignment

FIFA President has publicly acknowledged his attempts to be closely connected with Trump ahead of the 2026 event, set to be organized in numerous American venues across the US along with several in Canada and multiple in Mexico. The head has been present at multiple presidential events, had Trump hand over the Club World Cup cup after that tournament’s final, and has even rescheduled his FIFA's internal meeting to join Trump on a journey to the Gulf states earlier in 2025.

Previous Threats

This has not stopped, Trump from threatening the removal of World Cup games from other US host cities. On September 25, the Washington city and the Bay Area metropolis faced comparable statements, with Trump asserting both locations were “led by ideological activists who lack understanding what they’re doing,” while criticizing the safety level of both areas and claiming that matches could be removed.

FIFA Response

FIFA vice-president Montagliani rejected Trump’s assertions when he commented subsequently at a event in the UK capital.

“It’s the organization's event, under our authority, FIFA makes these matters,” Montagliani declared. “With all due respect to national heads, football is bigger than them and the game will endure their tenure and their government. That’s the strength of this sport, that it is transcends a single person and bigger than any country.”

2028 Comments

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

“If I believed Los Angeles was not going to be prepared properly, I'd shift it to an alternate venue if I had to,” he remarked. “On that one I’d probably have to get a varying permission, but we will do that.”

Official consent Trump alluded to would must come through the Olympic governing body. Their president, the newly elected president, was chosen to her position in March and has yet to meet publicly with the former president, although she said that she hopes for a sit-down with him at a future time.

Further Comments

The former president also questioned the state's leader Newsom’s response of recent California fires, saying that a similar situation could cause the removal of the event.

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

The warning was similarly unambiguous for the Massachusetts city.

“Boston must address these issues,” he remarked. “That’s all my message.”