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Former President Trump has yet again stated he would pressure FIFA to remove global soccer tournament events from a venue based on the local political climate, with Massachusetts emerging as the third targeted location to face such threats from the American leader. Moreover, Trump suggested he would evaluate comparable measures against LA for the 2028 Olympics due to potential safety issues.

Legal Authority and Informal Leverage

While Trump holds no official jurisdiction to directly relocate either competition, he may apply pressure the respective governing bodies overseeing each tournament to change venues.

Background of Comments

The remarks were made during a press event with Javier Milei, who was present in the White House following the disclosure of a massive rescue package for the Latin American nation. Near the conclusion of the event, a reporter asked Trump about a current unauthorized gathering in the city where law enforcement were targeted and a patrol car was burned. The correspondent also asked if these incidents could result in the revocation of tournament responsibilities for the larger football competition.

“We could take them away,” Trump remarked regarding the FIFA World Cup games, scheduled to be held at Gillette Stadium. “She is ineffective … she is extremist, and they’re dominating sections of Boston. It's a major statement, isn't it?”

Urban Disturbances and Ideological Perceptions

Public disruptions, a social media-driven phenomenon where large crowds gather on urban roads during nighttime to engage in dangerous driving, have emerged as a frequent problem in US urban areas since the Covid-19 pandemic shutdowns. Latest such gatherings have become aggressive in the state, including the city. Nevertheless, these events are usually not seen as linked to any specific ideological group.

“If a city is doing a bad job, and I believe exist security risks, I will call the organization's president, who is excellent, and tell him it should be shifted to another location,” the former president commented during the event. “And he would do that. He may not enjoy doing it, but he would comply. Very easily, he'd comply.”

Political Connections

Gianni Infantino has publicly acknowledged his attempts to be visibly associated with the former president ahead of the 2026 event, planned to be organized in multiple US locations across the US along with two in the northern neighbor and three in the southern neighbor. The FIFA president has appeared at multiple Oval Office gatherings, had Trump present the club tournament award after the concluding game, and has even delayed his own organization’s congress to join Trump on a journey to the Arab region previously.

Past Statements

This has not stopped, Trump from threatening the removal of FIFA World Cup events from additional American venues. Recently, the Washington city and the Bay Area metropolis came under parallel criticism, with Trump claiming both locations were “run by radical left lunatics who don’t know what they're managing,” while criticizing the security conditions of both areas and suggesting that events could be shifted.

Organizational Statement

FIFA vice-president Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s statements when he reacted subsequently at a event in England.

“This is the organization's event, our responsibility, FIFA makes such choices,” he stated. “Respectfully to national heads, the sport is bigger than any individual and football will outlast their administration and their policies. It's the strength of this sport, that it is bigger than a single person and more important than a nation.”

2028 Comments

Similarly, Trump’s reply to a query about Boston veered into a comparable warning regarding the LA Olympic event.

“In case I believed Los Angeles was not prepared properly, I will relocate it to another location if I had to,” Trump stated. “For the Olympics I might have to obtain a different kind of approval, but we would take that action.”

Any approval Trump mentioned would need to come from the Olympic governing body. The leader, she, was selected to her role in this year and has yet to appear together with him, though she stated that she would like a sit-down with the US figure at some point.

Other Remarks

The former president also condemned the state's leader Newsom’s handling of this year’s LA wildfires, saying that a similar situation could cause the relocation of the Olympics.

“In case he doesn’t play ball, we are going to have to be firm,” the former president stated.

His message was similarly unambiguous for Boston.

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