The former president Threatens Relocation of FIFA World Cup Fixtures from the Boston area, Olympics from Los Angeles

Former President Trump has repeatedly announced he would pressure FIFA to pull 2026 World Cup matches from a venue based on municipal governance, with the Boston region becoming the latest targeted location to encounter such threats from the American leader. Additionally, Trump remarked he would contemplate similar action against Southern California for the upcoming Olympic Games due to potential public safety risks.

Legal Authority and Possible Pressure

While Trump holds no direct legal authority to unilaterally remove either competition, he may apply pressure the respective governing bodies in charge of each tournament to shift locations.

Background of Comments

These comments were made during a news conference with Argentina's leader Milei, who was at the White House following the announcement of a massive financial assistance for the South American country. Toward the conclusion of the meeting, a journalist questioned Trump about a current public disturbance in Boston where law enforcement were attacked and a cruiser was burned. The correspondent also wondered if the situation could cause the revocation of hosting duties for the larger World Cup.

“It's possible to take them away,” he said concerning the World Cup fixtures, planned to be staged at the Massachusetts arena. “She is not good … she is far-left, and activists are taking over parts of downtown. That is a pretty big assertion, isn't it?”

Public Gatherings and Ideological Perceptions

Unauthorized gatherings, a digitally organized occurrence where participants assemble on city streets after dark to engage in dangerous driving, have emerged as a repeated problem in American cities since the lockdown shutdowns. Current incidents have become aggressive in the region, notably in the city. However, these gatherings are generally not seen as linked to any particular ideological group.

“If a city is doing a bad job, and I feel exist security risks, I will call Gianni [Infantino], who is outstanding, and say we should relocate it to a different city,” Trump said during the event. “He will do that. He wouldn’t love doing it, but he would comply. Without hesitation, he would.”

Organizational Alignment

FIFA President has made no secret his attempts to be closely connected with the US leader before next year’s tournament, planned to be hosted in multiple US locations across the US along with a couple in the northern neighbor and three in the southern neighbor. The FIFA president has appeared at several White House functions, had Trump present the Club World Cup cup after the concluding game, and has even rescheduled his the group's assembly to join Trump on a journey to the Middle East this year.

Previous Threats

Despite this, Trump from warning about the relocation of World Cup matches from other US host cities. On September 25, Seattle and the Bay Area metropolis faced comparable comments, with Trump asserting both locations were “governed by far-left extremists who lack understanding what they are doing,” while questioning the safety level of both cities and claiming that events could be shifted.

Official Rebuttal

The organization's deputy Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s statements when he commented days later at a gathering in England.

“This is the organization's event, our responsibility, we decide these matters,” Montagliani declared. “Politely to sitting presidents, the sport is more important than political figures and football will outlast their administration and their government. That is the beauty of this sport, that it is bigger than a single person and more important than any country.”

LA Games Warning

On Tuesday, Trump’s answer to a question about Boston included a parallel statement regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“In case I thought the city was failing to be prepared properly, I'd relocate it to an alternate venue as needed,” Trump stated. “For the Olympics I’d probably have to secure a alternative consent, but we'd do that.”

The permission Trump alluded to would have to come from the IOC. The head, the newly elected president, was selected to her role in this year and has not yet meet publicly with him, but she said that she desires a discussion with him at a future time.

Other Remarks

Trump also condemned the state's leader Newsom’s handling of this year’s LA wildfires, remarking that a similar situation could cause the removal of the Games.

“When he is uncooperative, we are going to have to be firm,” the former president said.

The warning was equally unambiguous for the Massachusetts city.

“They better address these issues,” he said. “That’s all I will say.”