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Former President Trump has yet again stated he would pressure FIFA to relocate global soccer tournament events from a venue based on municipal governance, with Massachusetts emerging as the latest targeted location to receive such threats from the American leader. Moreover, Trump remarked he would contemplate comparable measures against Southern California for the 2028 Olympics due to perceived public safety risks.

Official Power and Possible Pressure

Even though Trump lacks formal power to personally cancel either tournament, he may lobby the respective governing bodies managing each tournament to move locations.

Setting for Statements

These remarks were made during a press event with Argentinian president Milei, who was visiting the executive mansion following the disclosure of a multibillion-dollar financial assistance for the South American country. At the close of the event, a media member questioned Trump about a current “street takeover” in downtown Boston where police officers were targeted and a cruiser was set on fire. The reporter also asked if the situation could cause the removal of tournament responsibilities for the 48-team World Cup.

“It's possible to take them away,” Trump remarked about the FIFA World Cup matches, planned to be staged at the Foxborough venue. “Their mayor is poor … she is extremist, and they are occupying areas of Boston. That’s a significant statement, right?”

Public Gatherings and Public Safety Concerns

Public disruptions, a social media-driven occurrence where participants gather on public avenues during nighttime to engage in dangerous driving, have become a repeated problem in metropolitan centers since the coronavirus restrictions. Recent such gatherings have turned violent in Massachusetts, including downtown. However, these occurrences are usually not considered tied to any particular political ideology.

“In cases where a city is doing a bad job, and I feel there are security risks, I'd call the FIFA head, who is excellent, and say we should relocate it to a different city,” Trump commented during the event. “He'd do that. He might not prefer to do it, but he would comply. Without hesitation, he’d do it.”

FIFA Relationship

The organization's head has been open his attempts to be visibly associated with the US leader ahead of the upcoming World Cup, planned to be hosted in 11 cities across the US along with two in the northern neighbor and a few in Mexico. The FIFA president has been present at several presidential events, arranged for Trump deliver the FIFA club cup after that tournament’s final, and has even delayed his the group's assembly to accompany Trump on a journey to the Arab region earlier in 2025.

Past Statements

Despite this, Trump from suggesting the cancellation of FIFA World Cup games from different locations. Recently, Seattle and the Bay Area metropolis were comparable comments, with Trump claiming both cities were “governed by ideological activists who don’t know what they’re doing,” while questioning the public safety of both areas and claiming that games could be removed.

Official Rebuttal

The organization's deputy Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s statements when he commented subsequently at a gathering in the UK capital.

“This is FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction, we decide these matters,” he said. “Respectfully to current world leaders, the sport is bigger than political figures and football will outlast their tenure and their policies. That’s the beauty of our game, that it is transcends a single person and more important than a nation.”

Olympics Threat

On Tuesday, Trump’s answer to a query about Boston included a parallel statement regarding the upcoming Summer Games.

“When I perceived the city was not going to be sufficiently organized, I will shift it to another location if necessary,” Trump stated. “On that one I may have to secure a varying consent, but we will do that.”

Any approval Trump refers to would must come via the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Their president, the newly elected president, was selected to her role in March and has not yet appear together with Trump, although she indicated that she would like a discussion with Trump at some point.

Additional Criticism

He also questioned California governor Newsom’s management of recent LA wildfires, stating that a similar situation could cause the cancellation of the Olympics.

“In case Newsom is uncooperative, we will have to be strict,” the former president commented.

The warning was just as clear for the Massachusetts city.

“They should clean up their act,” he remarked. “That’s all I will say.”