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Ex-president Trump has once again announced he would influence FIFA to relocate 2026 World Cup matches from a venue based on municipal politics, with the Boston region now being the latest urban area to face such statements from the American leader. Additionally, Trump remarked he would evaluate comparable measures against Southern California for the 2028 Olympics due to possible public safety risks.

Legal Authority and Informal Leverage

Although Trump holds no direct legal authority to unilaterally remove either event, he may lobby the international organizations managing each event to move locations.

Context of Remarks

His comments were made during a news conference with Argentinian president Milei, who was present in the White House following the disclosure of a $20 billion bailout for the South American economy. At the close of the event, a media member questioned Trump about a recent unauthorized gathering in Boston where law enforcement were targeted and a cruiser was set on fire. The reporter also questioned if such events could lead to the revocation of tournament responsibilities for the 48-team World Cup.

“I would take them away,” Trump stated concerning the World Cup games, scheduled to be hosted at the Massachusetts arena. “Their mayor is not good … she is far-left, and they are dominating parts of downtown. It's a significant claim, isn't it?”

Urban Disturbances and Public Safety Concerns

Public disruptions, a digitally organized phenomenon where participants congregate on urban roads during nighttime to perform stunts, have become a frequent nuisance in US urban areas since the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. Recent incidents have turned violent in Massachusetts, including downtown. Yet, these events are generally not regarded as tied to any particular partisan agenda.

“In cases where a mayor is performing poorly, and I believe exist security risks, I will call the FIFA head, who is outstanding, and tell him we should relocate it to another location,” he said during the event. “He'd do that. He may not enjoy the action, but he'd agree. Without hesitation, he'd comply.”

Organizational Alignment

The organization's head has been open his strategies to be publicly aligned with the former president prior to the upcoming World Cup, planned to be organized in 11 cities across the United States along with several in the northern neighbor and multiple in Mexico. The head has been present at multiple Oval Office events, facilitated Trump hand over the Club World Cup cup after the championship match, and has even rescheduled his FIFA's internal meeting to travel with Trump on a journey to the Arab region this year.

Previous Threats

This has not stopped, Trump from threatening the removal of FIFA World Cup matches from other US host cities. On September 25, the Washington city and San Francisco came under parallel comments, with Trump asserting both cities were “governed by ideological activists who lack understanding what they are doing,” while criticizing the safety level of both cities and implying that matches could be removed.

Official Rebuttal

FIFA vice-president Montagliani rejected Trump’s assertions when he commented afterward at a event in England.

“This is the organization's event, our responsibility, we decide such choices,” he declared. “With all due respect to current world leaders, football is more important than political figures and the game will survive their regime and their policies. It's the beauty of football, that it is transcends a single person and more important than a nation.”

2028 Comments

On Tuesday, Trump’s reply to a inquiry about the Massachusetts city extended to a similar threat regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“If I perceived the city was failing to be adequately ready, I'd relocate it to a different city if I had to,” Trump stated. “For the Olympics I’d probably have to secure a different kind of permission, but we would proceed.”

Official consent Trump refers to would must come from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Their president, she, was chosen to her post in spring and has yet to meet publicly with him, though she said that she desires a sit-down with the US figure at a future time.

Additional Criticism

Trump also condemned the state's leader Newsom’s response of this year’s LA wildfires, stating that a similar situation could lead to the relocation of the Olympics.

“If Newsom is uncooperative, we are going to have to be very tough,” Trump said.

His message was similarly direct for the Massachusetts city.

“Boston should improve their situation,” he remarked. “That’s all I will say.”