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Ex-president Trump has yet again stated he would urge FIFA to pull global soccer tournament matches from a designated city based on the local governance, with Massachusetts becoming the third such city to encounter such statements from the US president. Furthermore, Trump remarked he would contemplate comparable measures against Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Games due to possible safety issues.

Official Power and Possible Pressure

Although Trump holds no direct legal authority to directly relocate either event, he may exert influence the organizing committees managing each tournament to change host cities.

Context of Remarks

The statements were made during a press event with Argentinian president Milei, who was visiting the White House following the disclosure of a multibillion-dollar financial assistance for the Latin American nation. Near the end of the gathering, a journalist inquired Trump about a recent unauthorized gathering in Boston where authorities were attacked and a patrol car was set on fire. The correspondent also asked if these incidents could cause the removal of hosting duties for the expanded soccer tournament.

“I would take them away,” Trump said concerning the FIFA World Cup fixtures, planned to be staged at the Foxborough venue. “Their mayor is poor … she is extremist, and they’re dominating areas of Boston. That’s a pretty big statement, right?”

Street Takeovers and Public Safety Concerns

Public disruptions, a digitally organized occurrence where participants congregate on city streets during nighttime to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have been a ongoing nuisance in US urban areas since the coronavirus shutdowns. Recent incidents have turned violent in the region, specifically in downtown. Yet, these occurrences are usually not seen as tied to any distinct political ideology.

“In cases where a mayor is doing a bad job, and I feel there are unsafe conditions, I'd call the FIFA head, who is phenomenal, and say let’s move it to an alternate venue,” the former president stated on Tuesday. “He'd do that. He may not enjoy to do it, but he’d do it. Very easily, he would.”

Political Connections

FIFA President has publicly acknowledged his efforts to be visibly associated with the former president ahead of the 2026 event, set to be organized in 11 cities across the US along with a couple in Canada and multiple in the southern neighbor. The organization's leader has been present at multiple Oval Office gatherings, arranged for Trump present the FIFA club trophy after that tournament’s final, and has even delayed his the group's assembly to accompany Trump on a trip to the Arab region this year.

Previous Threats

Despite this, Trump from warning about the removal of World Cup events from different locations. On September 25, the Washington city and the Bay Area metropolis faced parallel comments, with Trump claiming both urban centers were “run by far-left extremists who lack understanding what they're managing,” while criticizing the security conditions of both areas and suggesting that matches could be removed.

Organizational Statement

The organization's deputy Montagliani rejected Trump’s statements when he reacted afterward at a conference in the UK capital.

“This is our competition, under our authority, FIFA makes these matters,” Montagliani declared. “With all due respect to current world leaders, football is bigger than political figures and soccer will endure their administration and their leadership. That is the beauty of our game, that it is bigger than one leader and beyond any country.”

LA Games Warning

Similarly, Trump’s answer to a inquiry about Boston extended to a parallel statement regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“In case I thought Los Angeles was failing to be prepared properly, I would move it to another location as needed,” Trump stated. “For the Olympics I’d probably have to obtain a different kind of approval, but we will take that action.”

Any approval Trump refers to would must come from the IOC. The head, the newly elected president, was selected to her position in this year and has not yet appear together with the former president, although she stated that she would like a meeting with Trump at a future time.

Further Comments

The former president also questioned California governor Newsom’s management of this year’s LA wildfires, saying that a parallel incident could result in the cancellation of the event.

“When he is uncooperative, we will have to be firm,” the former president stated.

His statement was just as clear for Boston.

“Boston should improve their situation,” he remarked. “It's my message.”