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Donald Trump has yet again announced he would pressure FIFA to pull 2026 World Cup events from a designated city based on municipal governance, with Boston emerging as the latest such city to face such threats from the US president. Furthermore, Trump suggested he would contemplate parallel steps against Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Games due to perceived public safety risks.

Jurisdictional Limits and Informal Leverage

While Trump holds no official jurisdiction to personally cancel either tournament, he may lobby the international organizations overseeing each competition to change venues.

Context of Remarks

The remarks were made during a news conference with Argentina's leader Milei, who was visiting the executive mansion following the announcement of a $20 billion financial assistance for the Latin American country. Toward the conclusion of the event, a reporter asked Trump about a latest public disturbance in Boston where police officers were assaulted and a patrol car was ignited. The correspondent also questioned if such events could lead to the revocation of organizing rights for the 48-team soccer tournament.

“It's possible to take them away,” he said regarding the soccer games, planned to be staged at the Foxborough venue. “She is ineffective … they're far-left, and activists are taking over areas of downtown. That’s a pretty big claim, right?”

Public Gatherings and Ideological Perceptions

Public disruptions, a social media-driven trend where participants assemble on urban roads late at night to engage in dangerous driving, have emerged as a repeated issue in metropolitan centers since the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. Latest incidents have become aggressive in the state, specifically in Boston. However, these occurrences are typically not seen as tied to any specific political ideology.

“When a mayor is performing poorly, and I perceive there are dangerous circumstances, I will call the FIFA head, who is phenomenal, and say it should be shifted to an alternate venue,” the former president said during the event. “He'd do that. He wouldn’t love doing it, but he'd agree. Very easily, he’d do it.”

FIFA Relationship

Gianni Infantino has made no secret his attempts to be publicly aligned with the US leader prior to next year’s tournament, set to be hosted in 11 cities across the United States along with a couple in Canada and a few in the southern neighbor. The FIFA president has been present at various presidential gatherings, arranged for Trump hand over the Club World Cup cup after the championship match, and has even delayed his the group's assembly to accompany Trump on a trip to the Arab region earlier in 2025.

Earlier Warnings

Despite this, Trump from warning about the relocation of World Cup events from different locations. On September 25, the Washington city and San Francisco were comparable comments, with Trump stating both cities were “governed by far-left extremists who are clueless what they're managing,” while questioning the security conditions of both areas and claiming that events could be removed.

Organizational Statement

Victor Montagliani rejected Trump’s assertions when he reacted afterward at a event in England.

“It is our competition, our responsibility, the organization determines those decisions,” he said. “Respectfully to sitting presidents, the sport is more important than them and soccer will endure their regime and their policies. It's the beauty of this sport, that it is bigger than any individual and more important than any country.”

LA Games Warning

Similarly, Trump’s response to a inquiry about Boston included a similar threat regarding the LA Olympic event.

“If I believed Los Angeles was failing to be prepared properly, I'd relocate it to another location if necessary,” he remarked. “For the Olympics I’d probably have to get a different kind of consent, but we will proceed.”

Official consent Trump alluded to would need to come via the IOC. The leader, Kirsty Coventry, was chosen to her post in March and has so far not appear together with Trump, though she said that she desires a discussion with the US figure at some point.

Further Comments

The former president also criticized Gavin Newsom’s management of the California fires, remarking that a similar situation could lead to the removal of the Olympics.

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

The warning was equally unambiguous for Boston.

“Boston must address these issues,” he remarked. “It's my message.”