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Ex-president Trump has repeatedly declared he would urge FIFA to remove upcoming World Cup events from a venue based on that city's political climate, with Boston emerging as the most recent urban area to encounter such threats from the White House. Moreover, Trump indicated he would contemplate comparable measures against LA for the upcoming Olympic Games due to potential security concerns.

Jurisdictional Limits and Possible Pressure

While Trump does not have direct legal authority to directly relocate either tournament, he is able to exert influence the respective governing bodies in charge of each event to change venues.

Setting for Statements

His remarks were made during a press event with Argentinian president Milei, who was at the White House following the revelation of a multibillion-dollar financial assistance for the Latin American country. At the end of the event, a reporter asked Trump about a latest public disturbance in Boston where law enforcement were assaulted and a patrol car was ignited. The reporter also questioned if these incidents could lead to the revocation of hosting duties for the 48-team World Cup.

“It's possible to take them away,” the former president stated concerning the FIFA World Cup games, scheduled to be hosted at Gillette Stadium. “The city's leader is not good … she is radical left, and they are taking over parts of the city. It's a major assertion, right?”

Street Takeovers and Ideological Perceptions

Unauthorized gatherings, a online-fueled phenomenon where participants congregate on public avenues during nighttime to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have been a frequent issue in American cities since the coronavirus shutdowns. Latest such gatherings have escalated into violence in Massachusetts, notably in the city. Yet, these occurrences are typically not considered tied to any specific partisan agenda.

“In cases where a city is performing poorly, and I perceive there’s unsafe conditions, I will call the FIFA head, who is outstanding, and tell him it should be shifted to an alternate venue,” Trump stated during the event. “He will do that. He wouldn’t love to do it, but he'd agree. Without hesitation, he'd comply.”

Organizational Alignment

Gianni Infantino has publicly acknowledged his efforts to be visibly associated with the US leader prior to the 2026 event, set to be hosted in numerous American venues across the US along with a couple in Canada and three in Mexico. The FIFA president has participated at several presidential events, facilitated Trump deliver the club tournament award after that tournament’s final, and has even delayed his FIFA's internal meeting to travel with Trump on a visit to the Arab region earlier in 2025.

Earlier Warnings

Despite this, Trump from threatening the cancellation of FIFA World Cup games from different locations. On September 25, the Washington city and San Francisco were comparable comments, with Trump claiming both locations were “governed by far-left extremists who don’t know what they’re doing,” while criticizing the security conditions of both areas and implying that matches could be relocated.

FIFA Response

The organization's deputy Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s statements when he reacted afterward at a conference in London.

“It’s the organization's event, FIFA’s jurisdiction, FIFA makes those decisions,” the vice-president stated. “With all due respect to sitting presidents, football is more important than them and football will survive their regime and their government. That’s the beauty of our game, that it is transcends a single person and more important than any country.”

2028 Comments

During the event, Trump’s answer to a query about the Massachusetts city veered into a parallel statement regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“If I perceived LA was failing to be adequately ready, I'd move it to a different city if I had to,” Trump stated. “For the Olympics I might have to obtain a alternative consent, but we will proceed.”

The permission Trump refers to would have to come from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The leader, Kirsty Coventry, was selected to her position in this year and has so far not meet publicly with the former president, but she indicated that she would like a meeting with Trump at some point.

Other Remarks

He also questioned Gavin Newsom’s management of the LA wildfires, stating that a similar situation could lead to the relocation of the Games.

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

His statement was equally clear for the Massachusetts city.

“They must address these issues,” Trump stated. “It's I can say.”