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Former President Trump has yet again stated he would influence FIFA to remove 2026 World Cup games from a host city based on municipal governance, with the Boston region becoming the latest urban area to receive such warnings from the US president. Moreover, Trump remarked he would evaluate parallel steps against Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Games due to potential security concerns.

Jurisdictional Limits and Possible Pressure

Although Trump does not have formal power to personally cancel either event, he can lobby the respective governing bodies overseeing each tournament to move venues.

Context of Remarks

These comments were made during a news conference with Argentina's leader Milei, who was present in the White House following the announcement of a massive bailout for the Argentine country. Toward the close of the event, a journalist asked Trump about a latest unauthorized gathering in Boston where authorities were targeted and a cruiser was burned. The journalist also questioned if the situation could lead to the removal of hosting duties for the expanded football competition.

“I would take them away,” Trump said about the soccer matches, planned to be hosted at the Foxborough venue. “The city's leader is poor … she is far-left, and they’re occupying parts of the city. That is a significant assertion, don't you think?”

Public Gatherings and Public Safety Concerns

Unauthorized gatherings, a online-fueled trend where large crowds gather on public avenues after dark to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have become a frequent problem in US urban areas since the lockdown restrictions. Latest incidents have escalated into violence in the state, specifically in Boston. However, these events are generally not regarded as tied to any particular political ideology.

“When someone is doing a bad job, and I feel exist security risks, I will call the organization's president, who is outstanding, and tell him we should relocate it to an alternate venue,” he commented during the event. “And he would do that. He may not enjoy to do it, but he would comply. Without hesitation, he'd comply.”

Political Connections

Gianni Infantino has publicly acknowledged his strategies to be closely connected with the former president prior to the 2026 event, scheduled to be staged in numerous American venues across the US along with a couple in Canada and multiple in the southern neighbor. The FIFA president has been present at multiple presidential functions, facilitated Trump present the FIFA club cup after the concluding game, and has even delayed his FIFA's internal meeting to join Trump on a trip to the Middle East earlier in 2025.

Previous Threats

Despite this, Trump from suggesting the removal of FIFA World Cup games from other US host cities. Recently, the Washington city and the Bay Area metropolis were similar comments, with Trump asserting both urban centers were “led by radical left lunatics who don’t know what they are doing,” while questioning the security conditions of both cities and claiming that events could be removed.

Official Rebuttal

FIFA vice-president Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s statements when he reacted days later at a conference in London.

“This is our competition, under our authority, we decide those decisions,” he said. “With all due respect to sitting presidents, soccer is bigger than political figures and soccer will endure their regime and their government. It's the strength of this sport, that it is bigger than one leader and more important than any country.”

LA Games Warning

On Tuesday, Trump’s reply to a question about the Massachusetts city veered into a similar threat regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“If I thought Los Angeles was not going to be sufficiently organized, I will shift it to an alternate venue if necessary,” he said. “On that one I’d probably have to secure a alternative approval, but we would do that.”

Official consent Trump mentioned would must come through the IOC. Their head, the newly elected president, was chosen to her position in spring and has not yet meet publicly with him, although she indicated that she would like a meeting with the US figure at a future time.

Other Remarks

The former president also questioned the state's leader Newsom’s management of the California fires, stating that a similar situation could lead to the relocation of the Olympics.

“In case Newsom refuses to cooperate, we will have to be strict,” Trump said.

His statement was similarly direct for Boston.

“The city better improve their situation,” he said. “It's my message.”