🔗 Share this article Trump Threatens Removal of 2026 World Cup Games from Massachusetts, Olympics from LA Donald Trump has yet again stated he would pressure FIFA to pull upcoming World Cup matches from a host city based on that city's politics, with Boston emerging as the third urban area to encounter such warnings from the US president. Additionally, Trump suggested he would consider comparable measures against Southern California for the 2028 Summer Games due to potential safety issues. Legal Authority and Informal Leverage While Trump does not have official jurisdiction to directly relocate either tournament, he can apply pressure the respective governing bodies in charge of each event to move locations. Context of Remarks The remarks were made during a press event with Argentinian president Milei, who was at the executive mansion following the revelation of a massive financial assistance for the South American country. Near the end of the meeting, a reporter questioned Trump about a latest unauthorized gathering in downtown Boston where police officers were targeted and a cruiser was burned. The journalist also wondered if these incidents could result in the loss of tournament responsibilities for the expanded World Cup. “We could take them away,” Trump remarked regarding the soccer fixtures, scheduled to be hosted at the Foxborough venue. “The city's leader is poor … she’s radical left, and they’re taking over sections of Boston. That is a major claim, right?” Urban Disturbances and Political Context Public disruptions, a social media-driven phenomenon where participants gather on city streets during nighttime to engage in dangerous driving, have emerged as a repeated problem in American cities since the coronavirus shutdowns. Latest similar events have escalated into violence in the region, notably in downtown. Yet, these occurrences are generally not regarded as linked to any particular political ideology. “In cases where a city is doing a bad job, and I feel exist security risks, I'd call the organization's president, who is outstanding, and suggest it should be shifted to an alternate venue,” the former president commented publicly. “He will do that. He wouldn’t love doing it, but he'd agree. Without hesitation, he would.” FIFA Relationship FIFA President has been open his efforts to be publicly aligned with Trump ahead of next year’s tournament, planned to be hosted in numerous American venues across the US along with several in Canada and multiple in Mexico. The FIFA president has participated at various Oval Office events, had Trump deliver the club tournament award after that tournament’s final, and has even rescheduled his FIFA's internal meeting to travel with Trump on a journey to the Arab region previously. Previous Threats This has not stopped, Trump from suggesting the relocation of World Cup matches from additional American venues. In late September, Seattle and San Francisco came under comparable criticism, with Trump stating both locations were “led by far-left extremists who lack understanding what they're managing,” while questioning the safety level of both cities and suggesting that events could be removed. FIFA Response FIFA vice-president Montagliani dismissed Trump’s statements when he responded afterward at a event in the UK capital. “This is our competition, under our authority, FIFA makes such choices,” the vice-president declared. “Respectfully to current world leaders, soccer is transcends any individual and soccer will endure their administration and their leadership. That is the essence of this sport, that it is bigger than any individual and bigger than any country.” 2028 Comments Similarly, Trump’s response to a question about the Massachusetts city included a similar threat regarding the LA Olympic event. “When I believed the city was not going to be adequately ready, I will move it to another location as needed,” he said. “Regarding that event I’d probably have to get a different kind of permission, but we would do that.” The permission Trump refers to would need to come through the IOC. Their president, Kirsty Coventry, was chosen to her role in this year and has so far not meet publicly with Trump, although she indicated that she desires a sit-down with him at eventually. Additional Criticism The former president also criticized California governor Newsom’s handling of this year’s California fires, stating that a similar situation could cause the removal of the Olympics. “If the governor is uncooperative, we are going to have to be very tough,” the former president commented. His statement was just as unambiguous for the Massachusetts city. “They should clean up their act,” he said. “That is my message.”