The former president Warns of Relocation of World Cup Games from the Boston area, Olympic Games from Los Angeles

Donald Trump has once again announced he would urge FIFA to relocate upcoming World Cup matches from a venue based on municipal politics, with the Boston region now being the third targeted location to face such statements from the White House. Additionally, Trump suggested he would contemplate similar action against LA for the 2028 Summer Games due to potential public safety risks.

Official Power and Informal Leverage

Even though Trump does not have official jurisdiction to unilaterally remove either competition, he can exert influence the respective governing bodies overseeing each tournament to move host cities.

Context of Remarks

These remarks were made during a press event with Javier Milei, who was visiting the executive mansion following the disclosure of a massive bailout for the Latin American country. At the close of the gathering, a media member inquired Trump about a latest “street takeover” in downtown Boston where authorities were targeted and a patrol car was ignited. The correspondent also questioned if such events could cause the revocation of tournament responsibilities for the 48-team soccer tournament.

“We could take them away,” Trump said regarding the FIFA World Cup fixtures, scheduled to be staged at the Massachusetts arena. “The city's leader is not good … she is radical left, and they’re occupying parts of downtown. It's a major statement, don't you think?”

Urban Disturbances and Political Context

Public disruptions, a online-fueled phenomenon where participants assemble on public avenues after dark to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have become a repeated nuisance in American cities since the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. Latest incidents have escalated into violence in Massachusetts, notably in downtown. Yet, these occurrences are generally not considered linked to any specific ideological group.

“In cases where someone is failing, and I perceive there are security risks, I'd call Gianni [Infantino], who is phenomenal, and say let’s move it to another location,” the former president stated publicly. “He'd do that. He wouldn’t love to do it, but he would comply. Very easily, he would.”

Organizational Alignment

Gianni Infantino has been open his attempts to be closely connected with Trump before the upcoming World Cup, scheduled to be organized in numerous American venues across the America along with a couple in the northern neighbor and three in the southern neighbor. The organization's leader has been present at several White House gatherings, arranged for Trump hand over the Club World Cup award after the championship match, and has even rescheduled his the group's assembly to accompany Trump on a trip to the Arab region earlier in 2025.

Earlier Warnings

Despite this, Trump from suggesting the relocation of World Cup matches from additional American venues. On September 25, the Washington city and San Francisco faced comparable comments, with Trump asserting both urban centers were “led by far-left extremists who don’t know what they're managing,” while questioning the safety level of both locales and suggesting that matches could be shifted.

Official Rebuttal

Victor Montagliani rejected Trump’s statements when he responded days later at a event in the UK capital.

“It’s the organization's event, our responsibility, FIFA makes those decisions,” the vice-president declared. “Politely to current world leaders, football is more important than them and the game will survive their tenure and their leadership. That’s the strength of football, that it is bigger than one leader and bigger than any country.”

2028 Comments

During the event, Trump’s response to a query about the Massachusetts city extended to a comparable warning regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“In case I believed LA was not prepared properly, I will shift it to a different city as needed,” Trump stated. “On that one I might have to obtain a different kind of permission, but we'd do that.”

The permission Trump alluded to would have to come from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Their president, the newly elected president, was chosen to her position in spring and has yet to appear together with him, but she stated that she would like a sit-down with him at a future time.

Further Comments

Trump also criticized California governor Newsom’s response of this year’s LA wildfires, stating that a similar situation could result in the relocation of the Olympics.

“In case the governor is uncooperative, we will have to be firm,” Trump said.

The warning was equally direct for the Massachusetts city.

“The city must address these issues,” Trump stated. “That’s all I will say.”