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Donald Trump has once again stated he would pressure FIFA to relocate upcoming World Cup events from a venue based on municipal politics, with Massachusetts now being the most recent such city to face such warnings from the US president. Additionally, Trump indicated he would consider parallel steps against Southern California for the upcoming Olympic Games due to perceived safety issues.

Legal Authority and Possible Pressure

Even though Trump does not have official jurisdiction to personally cancel either tournament, he may exert influence the international organizations overseeing each tournament to move venues.

Background of Comments

The statements were made during a media briefing with Argentinian president Milei, who was present in the executive mansion following the disclosure of a $20 billion rescue package for the South American country. Toward the end of the meeting, a media member asked Trump about a latest public disturbance in Boston where authorities were assaulted and a patrol car was set on fire. The journalist also wondered if such events could cause the revocation of organizing rights for the expanded World Cup.

“It's possible to take them away,” he remarked about the World Cup fixtures, set to be held at the Foxborough venue. “The city's leader is not good … they're radical left, and activists are dominating areas of the city. That is a significant assertion, don't you think?”

Street Takeovers and Political Context

Street takeovers, a online-fueled trend where large crowds gather on public avenues after dark to perform stunts, have emerged as a repeated problem in US urban areas since the lockdown shutdowns. Current such gatherings have escalated into violence in the state, specifically in the city. Nevertheless, these occurrences are generally not considered associated with any particular political ideology.

“If a city is failing, and I feel there’s security risks, I'd call the FIFA head, who is excellent, and tell him it should be shifted to a different city,” the former president stated publicly. “He will do that. He might not prefer the action, but he'd agree. Without hesitation, he'd comply.”

Organizational Alignment

FIFA President has been open his strategies to be visibly associated with Trump before the 2026 event, planned to be organized in 11 cities across the United States along with two in Canada and three in the southern neighbor. The head has appeared at multiple presidential events, facilitated Trump hand over the FIFA club cup after that tournament’s final, and has even postponed his own organization’s congress to join Trump on a trip to the Gulf states previously.

Earlier Warnings

This has not stopped, Trump from warning about the cancellation of soccer events from additional American venues. In late September, the Washington city and San Francisco came under parallel comments, with Trump stating both urban centers were “governed by radical left lunatics who lack understanding what they are doing,” while challenging the safety level of both locales and implying that matches could be relocated.

FIFA Response

FIFA vice-president Montagliani rejected Trump’s assertions when he reacted days later at a event in London.

“This is the organization's event, under our authority, the organization determines these matters,” he said. “Respectfully to current world leaders, soccer is more important than any individual and soccer will survive their administration and their policies. That’s the beauty of football, that it is transcends any individual and beyond any country.”

2028 Comments

During the event, Trump’s answer to a query about Boston veered into a comparable warning regarding the upcoming Summer Games.

“In case I thought Los Angeles was failing to be prepared properly, I will relocate it to an alternate venue as needed,” he remarked. “For the Olympics I may have to secure a varying approval, but we'd proceed.”

The permission Trump mentioned would have to come via the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Their head, Kirsty Coventry, was elected to her position in March and has so far not appear together with him, although she stated that she hopes for a meeting with him at a future time.

Other Remarks

He also questioned the state's leader Newsom’s response of the California fires, saying that a comparable scenario could lead to the cancellation of the event.

“When Newsom doesn’t play ball, we will have to be very tough,” he commented.

The warning was equally clear for Boston.

“They should clean up their act,” he said. “It's I can say.”