🔗 Share this article

Former President Trump has repeatedly declared he would pressure FIFA to pull upcoming World Cup games from a venue based on municipal political climate, with Boston becoming the most recent targeted location to face such threats from the White House. Additionally, Trump indicated he would evaluate comparable measures against LA for the upcoming Olympic Games due to possible security concerns.

Official Power and Informal Leverage

While Trump does not have direct legal authority to directly relocate either competition, he may apply pressure the organizing committees overseeing each event to shift host cities.

Background of Comments

The comments were made during a media briefing with Argentinian president Milei, who was visiting the executive mansion following the revelation of a massive bailout for the South American country. At the conclusion of the gathering, a media member asked Trump about a latest “street takeover” in downtown Boston where law enforcement were attacked and a cruiser was set on fire. The journalist also wondered if the situation could result in the loss of hosting duties for the larger football competition.

“We could take them away,” the former president said concerning the FIFA World Cup games, planned to be hosted at the Massachusetts arena. “The city's leader is poor … they're radical left, and they are dominating parts of downtown. It's a significant statement, isn't it?”

Urban Disturbances and Public Safety Concerns

Street takeovers, a digitally organized phenomenon where groups of people assemble on urban roads after dark to engage in dangerous driving, have become a ongoing nuisance in US urban areas since the coronavirus shutdowns. Current similar events have become aggressive in the state, including downtown. However, these occurrences are usually not regarded as associated with any particular political ideology.

“If someone is doing a bad job, and I perceive exist unsafe conditions, I'd call the organization's president, who is excellent, and suggest we should relocate it to another location,” Trump stated publicly. “He'd do that. He may not enjoy to do it, but he’d do it. Without hesitation, he’d do it.”

Organizational Alignment

FIFA President has been open his efforts to be visibly associated with the US leader before the 2026 event, scheduled to be hosted in 11 cities across the America along with several in the northern neighbor and three in the southern neighbor. The FIFA president has participated at several presidential events, arranged for Trump deliver the FIFA club cup after that tournament’s final, and has even rescheduled his the group's assembly to travel with Trump on a journey to the Middle East this year.

Previous Threats

Despite this, Trump from threatening the cancellation of World Cup events from additional American venues. On September 25, the Washington city and San Francisco faced similar criticism, with Trump stating both cities were “governed by far-left extremists who are clueless what they are doing,” while questioning the safety level of both areas and implying that games could be removed.

Official Rebuttal

The organization's deputy Montagliani rejected Trump’s assertions when he reacted afterward at a conference in England.

“It is the organization's event, under our authority, the organization determines such choices,” Montagliani said. “Respectfully to national heads, football is transcends them and soccer will outlast their regime and their government. That’s the essence of our game, that it is bigger than any individual and bigger than individual states.”

LA Games Warning

Similarly, Trump’s reply to a query about the Massachusetts city veered into a similar threat regarding the upcoming Summer Games.

“When I believed the city was not going to be adequately ready, I will relocate it to another location if I had to,” he remarked. “On that one I may have to obtain a varying consent, but we will proceed.”

Official consent Trump mentioned would have to come through the Olympic governing body. The leader, she, was selected to her role in March and has so far not appear together with him, though she indicated that she hopes for a sit-down with Trump at eventually.

Additional Criticism

He also questioned the state's leader Newsom’s management of the California fires, remarking that a comparable scenario could result in the cancellation of the event.

“If Newsom refuses to cooperate, we’re gonna have to be strict,” the former president stated.

His message was equally direct for the Massachusetts city.

“The city must clean up their act,” Trump stated. “That’s all I can say.”