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Ex-president Trump has once again declared he would urge FIFA to relocate upcoming World Cup games from a venue based on the local politics, with Boston becoming the third such city to face such warnings from the US president. Furthermore, Trump suggested he would evaluate similar action against Los Angeles for the upcoming Olympic Games due to potential public safety risks.

Jurisdictional Limits and Possible Pressure

Although Trump does not have formal power to unilaterally remove either tournament, he may apply pressure the respective governing bodies in charge of each competition to change venues.

Setting for Statements

The statements were made during a media briefing with Argentinian president Milei, who was visiting the White House following the revelation of a $20 billion financial assistance for the Argentine country. Near the end of the gathering, a journalist inquired Trump about a latest “street takeover” in the city where authorities were assaulted and a patrol car was ignited. The journalist also wondered if the situation could result in the loss of hosting duties for the expanded World Cup.

“We could take them away,” Trump said regarding the soccer matches, set to be held at Gillette Stadium. “She is ineffective … she is radical left, and activists are occupying areas of downtown. That’s a major claim, don't you think?”

Street Takeovers and Ideological Perceptions

Unauthorized gatherings, a digitally organized occurrence where participants gather on city streets late at night to engage in dangerous driving, have been a frequent problem in American cities since the lockdown restrictions. Latest such gatherings have become aggressive in the state, including Boston. Yet, these gatherings are usually not seen as associated with any specific ideological group.

“When a city is doing a bad job, and I feel there are unsafe conditions, I would call the FIFA head, who is phenomenal, and say we should relocate it to an alternate venue,” Trump commented publicly. “He'd do that. He wouldn’t love doing it, but he would comply. Readily, he would.”

FIFA Relationship

FIFA President has publicly acknowledged his efforts to be publicly aligned with Trump before next year’s tournament, set to be organized in numerous American venues across the United States along with several in Canada and multiple in Mexico. The organization's leader has been present at several presidential functions, had Trump present the club tournament award after the championship match, and has even postponed his the group's assembly to travel with Trump on a journey to the Arab region earlier in 2025.

Earlier Warnings

Despite this, Trump from warning about the relocation of FIFA World Cup games from additional American venues. Recently, Seattle and San Francisco came under similar comments, with Trump asserting both urban centers were “governed by ideological activists who lack understanding what they’re doing,” while challenging the security conditions of both cities and implying that games could be shifted.

Official Rebuttal

The organization's deputy Montagliani dismissed Trump’s claims when he reacted subsequently at a event in the UK capital.

“It is FIFA’s tournament, under our authority, we decide such choices,” he said. “Respectfully to national heads, football is transcends political figures and the game will outlast their administration and their leadership. That is the strength of our game, that it is transcends a single person and more important than a nation.”

2028 Comments

Similarly, Trump’s answer to a question about the Massachusetts city veered into a comparable warning regarding the upcoming Summer Games.

“In case I thought LA was failing to be prepared properly, I'd relocate it to a different city if necessary,” he remarked. “On that one I might have to obtain a varying permission, but we would take that action.”

Any approval Trump alluded to would have to come via the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The head, Kirsty Coventry, was chosen to her role in spring and has not yet appear together with him, but she indicated that she hopes for a meeting with the US figure at eventually.

Additional Criticism

The former president also condemned Gavin Newsom’s handling of recent California fires, stating that a similar situation could result in the relocation of the Olympics.

“When Newsom is uncooperative, we’re gonna have to be firm,” the former president stated.

His message was similarly direct for the Massachusetts city.

“They must clean up their act,” he remarked. “That’s all my message.”