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Former President Trump has once again announced he would influence FIFA to pull 2026 World Cup events from a designated city based on the local politics, with Massachusetts becoming the third urban area to encounter such warnings from the White House. Furthermore, Trump suggested he would consider parallel steps against Southern California for the 2028 Olympics due to possible public safety risks.

Jurisdictional Limits and Informal Leverage

Although Trump holds no formal power to directly relocate either competition, he can apply pressure the international organizations in charge of each competition to move venues.

Setting for Statements

His remarks were made during a news conference with Argentina's leader Milei, who was at the presidential residence following the announcement of a multibillion-dollar rescue package for the Latin American country. Toward the conclusion of the meeting, a journalist questioned Trump about a latest public disturbance in Boston where authorities were targeted and a police vehicle was set on fire. The reporter also questioned if these incidents could lead to the removal of organizing rights for the expanded football competition.

“I would take them away,” the former president remarked regarding the FIFA World Cup fixtures, scheduled to be staged at Gillette Stadium. “The city's leader is not good … she’s radical left, and activists are taking over areas of downtown. That’s a pretty big statement, right?”

Public Gatherings and Political Context

Street takeovers, a social media-driven occurrence where groups of people gather on urban roads after dark to perform stunts, have emerged as a frequent nuisance in US urban areas since the Covid-19 pandemic closures. Recent such gatherings have escalated into violence in Massachusetts, specifically in Boston. Nevertheless, these events are typically not seen as linked to any particular partisan agenda.

“In cases where someone is doing a bad job, and I feel there’s unsafe conditions, I will call the FIFA head, who is phenomenal, and suggest it should be shifted to another location,” Trump stated publicly. “He'd do that. He might not prefer doing it, but he'd agree. Readily, he'd comply.”

Organizational Alignment

FIFA President has been open his attempts to be visibly associated with the former president prior to next year’s tournament, scheduled to be organized in 11 cities across the US along with two in Canada and multiple in Mexico. The FIFA president has participated at several White House gatherings, arranged for Trump present the FIFA club cup after the concluding game, and has even delayed his FIFA's internal meeting to accompany Trump on a visit to the Arab region earlier in 2025.

Earlier Warnings

Nevertheless, Trump from suggesting the cancellation of FIFA World Cup events from different locations. On September 25, Seattle and the Bay Area metropolis faced parallel statements, with Trump stating both locations were “led by ideological activists who don’t know what they’re doing,” while challenging the security conditions of both areas and implying that matches could be relocated.

Organizational Statement

The organization's deputy Montagliani dismissed Trump’s assertions when he responded days later at a conference in England.

“It’s our competition, our responsibility, we decide these matters,” Montagliani said. “With all due respect to sitting presidents, football is transcends any individual and football will survive their regime and their policies. That’s the beauty of this sport, that it is bigger than one leader and more important than any country.”

LA Games Warning

During the event, Trump’s reply to a query about Boston veered into a similar threat regarding the upcoming Summer Games.

“If I perceived LA was failing to be prepared properly, I would shift it to a different city if I had to,” Trump stated. “On that one I’d probably have to obtain a alternative permission, but we would take that action.”

The permission Trump alluded to would must come through the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Their head, she, was elected to her position in March and has yet to hold a public appearance with him, though she indicated that she hopes for a sit-down with the US figure at eventually.

Additional Criticism

The former president also condemned California governor Newsom’s handling of recent California fires, stating that a comparable scenario could cause the removal of the Olympics.

“In case Newsom refuses to cooperate, we are going to have to be firm,” the former president stated.

His message was similarly clear for Boston.

“Boston better address these issues,” Trump stated. “It's I will say.”