🔗 Share this article

Ex-president Trump has repeatedly announced he would influence FIFA to remove global soccer tournament events from a designated city based on municipal governance, with the Boston region becoming the third such city to encounter such threats from the White House. Additionally, Trump remarked he would evaluate similar action against Southern California for the 2028 Summer Games due to perceived public safety risks.

Legal Authority and Possible Pressure

Although Trump lacks official jurisdiction to directly relocate either competition, he can exert influence the international organizations managing each tournament to move host cities.

Background of Comments

These statements were made during a press event with Javier Milei, who was present in the presidential residence following the disclosure of a massive bailout for the Latin American nation. Near the conclusion of the event, a media member inquired Trump about a current “street takeover” in the city where police officers were targeted and a cruiser was set on fire. The correspondent also questioned if these incidents could cause the revocation of hosting duties for the expanded football competition.

“We could take them away,” he remarked concerning the FIFA World Cup matches, scheduled to be held at the Foxborough venue. “Their mayor is poor … she’s extremist, and they are taking over parts of downtown. It's a significant assertion, don't you think?”

Urban Disturbances and Ideological Perceptions

Public disruptions, a online-fueled occurrence where groups of people assemble on public avenues after dark to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have emerged as a frequent issue in American cities since the Covid-19 pandemic shutdowns. Recent such gatherings have become aggressive in the region, including downtown. Yet, these occurrences are usually not seen as associated with any particular partisan agenda.

“In cases where a city is failing, and I feel there’s security risks, I'd call the organization's president, who is outstanding, and suggest we should relocate it to an alternate venue,” Trump stated publicly. “He will do that. He wouldn’t love to do it, but he’d do it. Without hesitation, he’d do it.”

FIFA Relationship

The organization's head has been open his strategies to be closely connected with the former president prior to the upcoming World Cup, planned to be staged in 11 cities across the United States along with two in the northern neighbor and three in the southern neighbor. The FIFA president has been present at several White House events, facilitated Trump present the FIFA club award after that tournament’s final, and has even rescheduled his the group's assembly to accompany Trump on a journey to the Middle East earlier in 2025.

Previous Threats

This has not stopped, Trump from suggesting the relocation of FIFA World Cup games from additional American venues. In late September, the Washington city and San Francisco faced parallel comments, with Trump claiming both locations were “led by ideological activists who lack understanding what they're managing,” while challenging the public safety of both cities and suggesting that matches could be shifted.

Official Rebuttal

FIFA vice-president Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s statements when he reacted subsequently at a gathering in the UK capital.

“This is the organization's event, under our authority, the organization determines these matters,” Montagliani stated. “Politely to national heads, football is more important than any individual and the game will endure their administration and their policies. That’s the essence of this sport, that it is more significant than any individual and beyond individual states.”

2028 Comments

Similarly, Trump’s answer to a query about the Massachusetts city included a parallel statement regarding the upcoming Summer Games.

“When I thought LA was not going to be adequately ready, I would move it to another location if I had to,” Trump stated. “Regarding that event I may have to secure a varying approval, but we would take that action.”

Any approval Trump refers to would have to come through the IOC. The president, she, was selected to her role in this year and has yet to meet publicly with Trump, although she stated that she would like a sit-down with Trump at some point.

Other Remarks

He also questioned the state's leader Newsom’s response of recent LA wildfires, saying that a comparable scenario could result in the relocation of the Games.

“When Newsom is uncooperative, we’re gonna have to be very tough,” he said.

His message was similarly unambiguous for the Massachusetts city.

“The city better address these issues,” Trump stated. “It's I will say.”