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Ex-president Trump has repeatedly announced he would urge FIFA to relocate upcoming World Cup games from a designated city based on municipal politics, with the Boston region becoming the latest targeted location to encounter such warnings from the White House. Furthermore, Trump remarked he would evaluate parallel steps against LA for the 2028 Summer Games due to potential security concerns.

Jurisdictional Limits and Informal Leverage

Although Trump does not have formal power to personally cancel either event, he can exert influence the international organizations in charge of each event to shift host cities.

Setting for Statements

His statements were made during a news conference with Javier Milei, who was present in the White House following the disclosure of a massive rescue package for the Argentine nation. Toward the end of the event, a journalist inquired Trump about a current unauthorized gathering in the city where law enforcement were assaulted and a police vehicle was burned. The reporter also wondered if the situation could cause the revocation of tournament responsibilities for the larger World Cup.

“It's possible to take them away,” the former president remarked about the soccer fixtures, scheduled to be staged at the Massachusetts arena. “Their mayor is poor … they're far-left, and they are dominating parts of the city. It's a major assertion, right?”

Urban Disturbances and Public Safety Concerns

Street takeovers, a social media-driven phenomenon where groups of people congregate on city streets late at night to perform stunts, have become a repeated nuisance in American cities since the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. Recent similar events have escalated into violence in Massachusetts, specifically in downtown. Nevertheless, these gatherings are generally not considered associated with any particular political ideology.

“In cases where a mayor is performing poorly, and I perceive there are dangerous circumstances, I would call Gianni [Infantino], who is excellent, and tell him we should relocate it to an alternate venue,” the former president said on Tuesday. “He'd do that. He might not prefer the action, but he would comply. Very easily, he would.”

Political Connections

FIFA President has made no secret his strategies to be visibly associated with the former president prior to the upcoming World Cup, set to be staged in 11 cities across the United States along with two in the northern neighbor and multiple in Mexico. The FIFA president has participated at multiple presidential functions, had Trump hand over the FIFA club trophy after the championship match, and has even rescheduled his FIFA's internal meeting to join Trump on a trip to the Arab region previously.

Past Statements

Despite this, Trump from warning about the cancellation of World Cup events from different locations. In late September, Seattle and the Bay Area metropolis faced parallel comments, with Trump stating both cities were “governed by far-left extremists who don’t know what they're managing,” while criticizing the public safety of both areas and claiming that games could be shifted.

Official Rebuttal

Victor Montagliani dismissed Trump’s claims when he reacted days later at a gathering in England.

“It is FIFA’s tournament, our responsibility, FIFA makes these matters,” he stated. “Politely to national heads, the sport is transcends any individual and football will outlast their tenure and their policies. That’s the beauty of this sport, that it is bigger than a single person and more important than individual states.”

LA Games Warning

Similarly, Trump’s reply to a question about the Massachusetts city included a comparable warning regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“In case I perceived the city was not going to be prepared properly, I'd relocate it to another location if I had to,” Trump stated. “Regarding that event I might have to secure a alternative permission, but we would do that.”

Any approval Trump alluded to would have to come through the IOC. Their president, Kirsty Coventry, was selected to her role in this year and has yet to hold a public appearance with the former president, though she said that she desires a meeting with him at eventually.

Further Comments

The former president also condemned Gavin Newsom’s management of the California fires, stating that a similar situation could cause the cancellation of the Olympics.

“In case the governor is uncooperative, we’re gonna have to be strict,” he stated.

The warning was just as clear for the Massachusetts city.

“The city must address these issues,” he remarked. “That is my message.”