🔗 Share this article

Ex-president Trump has once again declared he would urge FIFA to pull 2026 World Cup events from a host city based on the local governance, with the Boston region now being the third such city to receive such threats from the American leader. Moreover, Trump suggested he would contemplate parallel steps against Southern California for the 2028 Olympics due to perceived safety issues.

Official Power and Potential Influence

While Trump does not have formal power to directly relocate either event, he can exert influence the international organizations in charge of each tournament to shift host cities.

Setting for Statements

The comments were made during a press event with Argentinian president Milei, who was present in the White House following the disclosure of a multibillion-dollar financial assistance for the Argentine nation. Toward the end of the gathering, a reporter questioned Trump about a latest public disturbance in the city where police officers were attacked and a patrol car was ignited. The reporter also wondered if these incidents could cause the removal of organizing rights for the expanded football competition.

“It's possible to take them away,” the former president remarked regarding the FIFA World Cup matches, scheduled to be hosted at Gillette Stadium. “She is ineffective … she is extremist, and they are taking over parts of the city. It's a major claim, isn't it?”

Street Takeovers and Political Context

Street takeovers, a social media-driven trend where participants gather on urban roads after dark to perform stunts, have been a repeated problem in American cities since the lockdown closures. Current similar events have escalated into violence in Massachusetts, specifically in Boston. Nevertheless, these occurrences are typically not seen as associated with any distinct political ideology.

“If a mayor is doing a bad job, and I perceive there’s dangerous circumstances, I will call the FIFA head, who is phenomenal, and suggest let’s move it to a different city,” Trump said during the event. “He'd do that. He may not enjoy to do it, but he'd agree. Without hesitation, he would.”

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 US along with two in Canada and three in Mexico. The head has appeared at various White House events, facilitated Trump deliver the Club World Cup trophy after that tournament’s final, and has even postponed his FIFA's internal meeting to join Trump on a trip to the Middle East this year.

Earlier Warnings

Nevertheless, Trump from warning about the relocation of FIFA World Cup matches from additional American venues. In late September, the Washington city and the Bay Area metropolis were similar statements, with Trump stating both locations were “governed by radical left lunatics who don’t know what they’re doing,” while questioning the security conditions of both locales and claiming that matches could be removed.

Official Rebuttal

The organization's deputy Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s statements when he responded subsequently at a conference in the UK capital.

“It’s our competition, under our authority, the organization determines such choices,” the vice-president said. “Respectfully to sitting presidents, soccer is bigger than them and the game will endure their tenure and their policies. It's the strength of football, that it is more significant than a single person and beyond any country.”

Olympics Threat

Similarly, Trump’s response to a inquiry about the Massachusetts city included a parallel statement regarding the upcoming Summer Games.

“When I believed Los Angeles was failing to be adequately ready, I will relocate it to a different city if I had to,” Trump stated. “Regarding that event I may have to get a different kind of permission, but we will do that.”

Any approval Trump refers to would need to come from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The leader, the newly elected president, was elected to her position in this year and has not yet meet publicly with him, but she indicated that she would like a sit-down with him at a future time.

Other Remarks

He also criticized the state's leader Newsom’s response of this year’s California fires, stating that a similar situation could lead to the relocation of the Games.

“When Newsom refuses to cooperate, we’re gonna have to be very tough,” the former president said.

His message was similarly clear for Boston.

“The city should improve their situation,” Trump stated. “That is I can say.”