The former president Threatens Removal of FIFA World Cup Games from Massachusetts, Olympic Games from Los Angeles
Ex-president Trump has once again declared he would influence FIFA to relocate 2026 World Cup events from a designated city based on municipal governance, with Boston emerging as the latest urban area to encounter such warnings from the American leader. Furthermore, Trump suggested he would contemplate similar action against Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Games due to potential security concerns.
Official Power and Potential Influence
While Trump lacks official jurisdiction to directly relocate either tournament, he can lobby the organizing committees in charge of each event to move venues.
Context of Remarks
His comments were made during a media briefing with Argentinian president Milei, who was visiting the presidential residence following the revelation of a $20 billion bailout for the Latin American nation. Toward the end of the meeting, a journalist questioned Trump about a current unauthorized gathering in downtown Boston where law enforcement were attacked and a patrol car was ignited. The correspondent also asked if such events could lead to the loss of organizing rights for the 48-team World Cup.
“We could take them away,” he stated regarding the soccer matches, planned to be held at the Massachusetts arena. “She is ineffective … she is extremist, and they’re occupying areas of Boston. That’s a pretty big assertion, right?”
Urban Disturbances and Public Safety Concerns
Public disruptions, a digitally organized phenomenon where groups of people gather on urban roads during nighttime to engage in dangerous driving, have emerged as a repeated nuisance in American cities since the coronavirus shutdowns. Latest incidents have escalated into violence in the state, including the city. However, these occurrences are usually not seen as tied to any specific ideological group.
“In cases where a city is doing a bad job, and I perceive there are unsafe conditions, I will call Gianni [Infantino], who is outstanding, and suggest it should be shifted to an alternate venue,” he stated during the event. “He will do that. He might not prefer doing it, but he would comply. Very easily, he’d do it.”
Political Connections
FIFA President has publicly acknowledged his efforts to be visibly associated with the former president prior to the 2026 event, set to be hosted in 11 cities across the US along with several in Canada and three in Mexico. The head has participated at multiple presidential functions, had Trump deliver the club tournament award after the concluding game, and has even rescheduled his the group's assembly to accompany Trump on a trip to the Arab region earlier in 2025.
Earlier Warnings
This has not stopped, Trump from suggesting the relocation of soccer events from other US host cities. In late September, Seattle and the Bay Area metropolis were parallel statements, with Trump asserting both locations were “led by far-left extremists who lack understanding what they are doing,” while criticizing the safety level of both locales and claiming that games could be removed.
Official Rebuttal
Victor Montagliani rejected Trump’s claims when he responded subsequently at a gathering in London.
“It is FIFA’s tournament, under our authority, the organization determines those decisions,” Montagliani stated. “Politely to current world leaders, football is transcends any individual and football will outlast their regime and their leadership. That is the essence of football, that it is transcends one leader and more important than individual states.”
LA Games Warning
During the event, Trump’s reply to a inquiry about Boston included a parallel statement regarding the LA Olympic event.
“If I perceived Los Angeles was not going to be sufficiently organized, I will move it to another location if I had to,” he said. “On that one I may have to obtain a varying permission, but we'd do that.”
Official consent Trump alluded to would have to come via the Olympic governing body. Their president, Kirsty Coventry, was elected to her post in March and has yet to meet publicly with him, although she said that she desires a discussion with the US figure at a future time.
Additional Criticism
He also criticized the state's leader Newsom’s management of the blazes, stating that a parallel incident could lead to the removal of the Olympics.
“In case he doesn’t play ball, we are going to have to be very tough,” Trump commented.
The warning was similarly direct for Boston.
“The city must address these issues,” Trump stated. “It's I can say.”
