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Ex-president Trump has once again announced he would influence FIFA to relocate upcoming World Cup games from a designated city based on that city's governance, with Massachusetts becoming the third urban area to receive such threats from the US president. Moreover, Trump remarked he would evaluate parallel steps against Los Angeles for the upcoming Olympic Games due to possible security concerns.

Official Power and Potential Influence

Although Trump holds no direct legal authority to personally cancel either event, he may lobby the respective governing bodies overseeing each event to shift venues.

Context of Remarks

His comments were made during a press event with Argentinian president Milei, who was present in the executive mansion following the announcement of a massive rescue package for the South American economy. At the conclusion of the event, a journalist inquired Trump about a current unauthorized gathering in Boston where authorities were targeted and a police vehicle was set on fire. The correspondent also asked if these incidents could result in the revocation of hosting duties for the larger soccer tournament.

“It's possible to take them away,” Trump remarked concerning the FIFA World Cup matches, planned to be staged at the Foxborough venue. “She is poor … she’s far-left, and they’re taking over parts of downtown. That is a pretty big assertion, isn't it?”

Street Takeovers and Ideological Perceptions

Public disruptions, a online-fueled occurrence where groups of people gather on urban roads late at night to perform stunts, have been a repeated issue in American cities since the lockdown closures. Recent similar events have turned violent in the state, notably in the city. Yet, these gatherings are usually not considered tied to any distinct ideological group.

“When a city is doing a bad job, and I feel there’s unsafe conditions, I'd call the organization's president, who is excellent, and tell him we should relocate it to an alternate venue,” Trump stated during the event. “He'd do that. He wouldn’t love the action, but he would comply. Readily, he'd comply.”

FIFA Relationship

Gianni Infantino has publicly acknowledged his strategies to be closely connected with Trump prior to the 2026 event, set to be staged in 11 cities across the America along with a couple in Canada and three in the southern neighbor. The head has been present at various presidential events, facilitated Trump hand over the FIFA club cup after the concluding game, and has even postponed his own organization’s congress to join Trump on a journey to the Gulf states earlier in 2025.

Earlier Warnings

This has not stopped, Trump from warning about the cancellation of FIFA World Cup matches from other US host cities. On September 25, Seattle and San Francisco faced similar statements, with Trump asserting both cities were “run by far-left extremists who don’t know what they're managing,” while challenging the public safety of both areas and implying that matches could be removed.

FIFA Response

FIFA vice-president Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s assertions when he responded subsequently at a gathering in London.

“It is FIFA’s tournament, our responsibility, the organization determines those decisions,” Montagliani stated. “Politely to current world leaders, the sport is bigger than political figures and soccer will survive their administration and their leadership. That is the beauty of this sport, that it is transcends one leader and bigger than individual states.”

Olympics Threat

During the event, Trump’s reply to a question about the Massachusetts city veered into a similar threat regarding the LA Olympic event.

“In case I thought the city was not going to be adequately ready, I'd relocate it to another location as needed,” he remarked. “Regarding that event I might have to secure a different kind of permission, but we will take that action.”

Any approval Trump alluded to would have to come through the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The president, Kirsty Coventry, was chosen to her position in spring and has yet to appear together with him, but she said that she desires a sit-down with Trump at eventually.

Further Comments

He also condemned Gavin Newsom’s handling of recent California fires, saying that a parallel incident could cause the removal of the event.

“When Newsom doesn’t play ball, we are going to have to be firm,” he said.

His statement was similarly clear for Boston.

“The city better improve their situation,” Trump stated. “That’s all my message.”