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Ex-president Trump has yet again stated he would influence FIFA to pull global soccer tournament matches from a designated city based on the local political climate, with Massachusetts emerging as the third targeted location to receive such warnings from the US president. Moreover, Trump indicated he would evaluate comparable measures against LA for the upcoming Olympic Games due to potential public safety risks.

Legal Authority and Informal Leverage

Although Trump does not have direct legal authority to directly relocate either competition, he may exert influence the organizing committees in charge of each tournament to change venues.

Setting for Statements

The comments were made during a media briefing with Argentina's leader Milei, who was at the executive mansion following the announcement of a multibillion-dollar rescue package for the Argentine nation. At the conclusion of the meeting, a reporter inquired Trump about a current unauthorized gathering in downtown Boston where authorities were targeted and a cruiser was burned. The reporter also asked if these incidents could result in the removal of hosting duties for the expanded soccer tournament.

“We could take them away,” Trump said concerning the World Cup games, planned to be hosted at Gillette Stadium. “Their mayor is not good … she is extremist, and they’re dominating sections of the city. That’s a pretty big claim, right?”

Street Takeovers and Political Context

Unauthorized gatherings, a digitally organized trend where groups of people gather on city streets late at night to engage in dangerous driving, have been a repeated issue in American cities since the coronavirus restrictions. Latest such gatherings have escalated into violence in the region, specifically in downtown. However, these events are usually not considered associated with any particular political ideology.

“If a mayor is failing, and I believe there’s security risks, I will call the organization's president, who is phenomenal, and tell him it should be shifted to a different city,” the former president stated on Tuesday. “He will do that. He wouldn’t love the action, but he would comply. Very easily, he'd comply.”

FIFA Relationship

FIFA President has publicly acknowledged his efforts to be publicly aligned with the former president prior to the 2026 event, scheduled to be organized in multiple US locations across the United States along with several in Canada and three in the southern neighbor. The FIFA president has been present at several Oval Office events, facilitated Trump deliver the FIFA club cup after the concluding game, and has even rescheduled his FIFA's internal meeting to accompany Trump on a trip to the Arab region previously.

Past Statements

Nevertheless, Trump from suggesting the cancellation of World Cup events from additional American venues. On September 25, the Washington city and San Francisco came under similar statements, with Trump asserting both cities were “led by radical left lunatics who don’t know what they’re doing,” while challenging the security conditions of both areas and suggesting that events could be relocated.

FIFA Response

Victor Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s claims when he commented afterward at a event in London.

“This is our competition, our responsibility, we decide those decisions,” he said. “Politely to sitting presidents, soccer is bigger than them and the game will endure their administration and their leadership. That is the beauty of our game, that it is more significant than one leader and bigger than a nation.”

2028 Comments

During the event, Trump’s reply to a inquiry about the Massachusetts city included a parallel statement regarding the LA Olympic event.

“If I thought LA was not adequately ready, I would move it to another location as needed,” he said. “On that one I might have to obtain a alternative consent, but we would proceed.”

Official consent Trump refers to would need to come through the Olympic governing body. The president, she, was selected to her post in this year and has yet to appear together with Trump, but she indicated that she hopes for a discussion with the US figure at eventually.

Other Remarks

The former president also questioned Gavin Newsom’s response of the California fires, stating that a similar situation could result in the cancellation of the Olympics.

“In case Newsom refuses to cooperate, we will have to be strict,” Trump commented.

His statement was equally clear for Boston.

“Boston better address these issues,” he said. “That’s all my message.”