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Former President Trump has repeatedly declared he would influence FIFA to relocate global soccer tournament events from a venue based on that city's politics, with Boston becoming the third such city to receive such statements from the White House. Additionally, Trump indicated he would consider comparable measures against Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Games due to potential security concerns.

Jurisdictional Limits and Possible Pressure

Although Trump lacks official jurisdiction to personally cancel either tournament, he is able to apply pressure the organizing committees overseeing each competition to shift host cities.

Context of Remarks

These statements were made during a press event with Argentina's leader Milei, who was visiting the presidential residence following the announcement of a $20 billion financial assistance for the South American economy. Near the conclusion of the event, a media member asked Trump about a current unauthorized gathering in downtown Boston where law enforcement were targeted and a patrol car was burned. The journalist also questioned if such events could lead to the loss of tournament responsibilities for the 48-team World Cup.

“It's possible to take them away,” he remarked about the soccer fixtures, planned to be held at the Foxborough venue. “She is ineffective … they're far-left, and activists are occupying areas of the city. That’s a major claim, don't you think?”

Street Takeovers and Public Safety Concerns

Public disruptions, a social media-driven trend where groups of people congregate on public avenues after dark to perform stunts, have emerged as a repeated problem in metropolitan centers since the Covid-19 pandemic shutdowns. Current incidents have escalated into violence in Massachusetts, including Boston. However, these events are typically not regarded as linked to any specific partisan agenda.

“In cases where a mayor is failing, and I believe there’s dangerous circumstances, I'd call the FIFA head, who is phenomenal, and tell him it should be shifted to another location,” the former president stated publicly. “And he would do that. He wouldn’t love doing it, but he would comply. Readily, he'd comply.”

Organizational Alignment

FIFA President has been open his strategies 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 several in the northern neighbor and three in the southern neighbor. The organization's leader has been present at various Oval Office events, facilitated Trump hand over the FIFA club trophy after that tournament’s final, and has even delayed his the group's assembly to travel with Trump on a visit to the Middle East this year.

Previous Threats

Nevertheless, Trump from warning about the cancellation of FIFA World Cup matches from different locations. On September 25, Seattle and the Bay Area metropolis came under similar statements, with Trump asserting both cities were “run by ideological activists who lack understanding what they're managing,” while questioning the public safety of both locales and implying that matches could be shifted.

Official Rebuttal

FIFA vice-president Montagliani rejected Trump’s claims when he reacted subsequently at a gathering in the UK capital.

“This is FIFA’s tournament, under our authority, FIFA makes such choices,” the vice-president stated. “Respectfully to national heads, the sport is transcends them and the game will survive their tenure and their policies. That is the beauty of football, that it is transcends any individual and beyond any country.”

LA Games Warning

Similarly, Trump’s reply to a question about the Massachusetts city extended to a parallel statement regarding the LA Olympic event.

“If I thought Los Angeles was not going to be adequately ready, I will shift it to an alternate venue if I had to,” he remarked. “On that one I’d probably have to secure a alternative permission, but we will do that.”

The permission Trump mentioned would need to come from the IOC. The president, the newly elected president, was chosen to her post in this year and has yet to appear together with him, although she indicated that she hopes for a discussion with him at eventually.

Other Remarks

Trump also questioned the state's leader Newsom’s handling of recent blazes, stating that a similar situation could result in the relocation of the Games.

“If he doesn’t play ball, we will have to be firm,” Trump stated.

His message was similarly clear for Boston.

“They better improve their situation,” he remarked. “That is my message.”