🔗 Share this article

Ex-president Trump has repeatedly declared he would influence FIFA to remove upcoming World Cup events from a host city based on municipal political climate, with Boston emerging as the latest such city to encounter such threats from the US president. Additionally, Trump remarked he would consider comparable measures against Los Angeles for the upcoming Olympic Games due to potential public safety risks.

Official Power and Possible Pressure

Even though Trump holds no direct legal authority to directly relocate either tournament, he may exert influence the organizing committees managing each event to shift host cities.

Background of Comments

These comments were made during a press event with Javier Milei, who was visiting the White House following the revelation of a multibillion-dollar bailout for the Argentine nation. Toward the close of the gathering, a media member asked Trump about a current unauthorized gathering in downtown Boston where authorities were assaulted and a police vehicle was burned. The correspondent also wondered if the situation could result in the removal of tournament responsibilities for the 48-team World Cup.

“I would take them away,” Trump stated about the FIFA World Cup matches, scheduled to be staged at Gillette Stadium. “Their mayor is ineffective … they're extremist, and activists are taking over parts of downtown. That’s a significant statement, don't you think?”

Street Takeovers and Political Context

Public disruptions, a digitally organized phenomenon where participants gather on urban roads late at night to engage in dangerous driving, have emerged as a repeated problem in US urban areas since the lockdown shutdowns. Current similar events have become aggressive in the region, specifically in the city. Yet, these events are generally not seen as linked to any specific political ideology.

“In cases where a city is performing poorly, and I feel there’s unsafe conditions, I will call Gianni [Infantino], who is phenomenal, and tell him let’s move it to an alternate venue,” the former president said on Tuesday. “He'd do that. He wouldn’t love the action, but he’d do it. Readily, he’d do it.”

FIFA Relationship

FIFA President has been open his efforts to be closely connected with the US leader before the upcoming World Cup, scheduled to be organized in multiple US locations across the America along with two in the northern neighbor and three in Mexico. The organization's leader has appeared at several Oval Office gatherings, arranged for Trump present the club tournament cup after that tournament’s final, and has even delayed his FIFA's internal meeting to travel with Trump on a journey to the Gulf states earlier in 2025.

Earlier Warnings

This has not stopped, Trump from warning about the relocation of FIFA World Cup games from additional American venues. In late September, Seattle and San Francisco came under comparable statements, with Trump stating both cities were “led by far-left extremists who don’t know what they are doing,” while challenging the safety level of both cities and suggesting that matches could be relocated.

Official Rebuttal

The organization's deputy Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s claims when he responded subsequently at a conference in London.

“It’s FIFA’s tournament, our responsibility, the organization determines such choices,” the vice-president declared. “With all due respect to current world leaders, the sport is bigger than political figures and the game will endure their administration and their policies. That is the beauty of football, that it is more significant than a single person and more important than a nation.”

Olympics Threat

On Tuesday, Trump’s response to a inquiry about Boston included a comparable warning regarding the LA Olympic event.

“When I believed LA was failing to be prepared properly, I will shift it to another location if necessary,” he said. “On that one I might have to get a varying consent, but we will do that.”

Official consent Trump refers to would must come through the IOC. Their president, the newly elected president, was chosen to her post in this year and has yet to meet publicly with him, though she stated that she would like a meeting with him at a future time.

Further Comments

He also condemned the state's leader Newsom’s management of recent blazes, remarking that a comparable scenario could cause the removal of the Games.

“If Newsom doesn’t play ball, we are going to have to be strict,” Trump commented.

The warning was similarly clear for the Massachusetts city.

“The city must improve their situation,” he said. “It's I will say.”