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Former President Trump has yet again declared he would urge FIFA to pull global soccer tournament events from a host city based on that city's politics, with Massachusetts becoming the third such city to face such statements from the US president. Furthermore, Trump suggested he would evaluate comparable measures against Southern California for the upcoming Olympic Games due to perceived public safety risks.

Legal Authority and Potential Influence

Although Trump lacks formal power to unilaterally remove either event, he is able to exert influence the organizing committees managing each event to change host cities.

Setting for Statements

These statements were made during a news conference with Javier Milei, who was visiting the executive mansion following the revelation of a $20 billion bailout for the South American country. At the close of the meeting, a media member questioned Trump about a recent unauthorized gathering in the city where authorities were attacked and a patrol car was burned. The reporter also asked if the situation could cause the loss of hosting duties for the larger football competition.

“We could take them away,” Trump remarked about the soccer matches, planned to be hosted at the Foxborough venue. “She is poor … they're far-left, and they are taking over parts of the city. That is a pretty big claim, don't you think?”

Public Gatherings and Public Safety Concerns

Unauthorized gatherings, a social media-driven occurrence where groups of people assemble on city streets after dark to engage in dangerous driving, have become a frequent nuisance in US urban areas since the coronavirus closures. Latest similar events have escalated into violence in the state, specifically in downtown. Nevertheless, these events are usually not seen as tied to any distinct ideological group.

“If someone is doing a bad job, and I perceive there’s security risks, I'd call the organization's president, who is phenomenal, and suggest we should relocate it to an alternate venue,” Trump stated publicly. “And he would do that. He might not prefer doing it, but he would comply. Readily, he'd comply.”

Political Connections

The organization's head has made no secret his attempts to be closely connected with the former president prior to the 2026 event, planned to be organized in multiple US locations across the US along with several in Canada and multiple in Mexico. The head has participated at multiple Oval Office functions, arranged for Trump deliver the club tournament trophy after the championship match, and has even delayed his FIFA's internal meeting to accompany Trump on a trip to the Gulf states earlier in 2025.

Earlier Warnings

This has not stopped, Trump from suggesting the removal of FIFA World Cup games from additional American venues. Recently, the Washington city and San Francisco were comparable statements, with Trump claiming both cities were “run by radical left lunatics who don’t know what they're managing,” while questioning the public safety of both areas and claiming that events could be relocated.

Organizational Statement

Victor Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s statements when he commented subsequently at a conference in London.

“It’s our competition, our responsibility, we decide these matters,” the vice-president stated. “With all due respect to current world leaders, the sport is bigger than political figures and soccer will endure their administration and their leadership. It's the essence of our game, that it is more significant than one leader and beyond any country.”

2028 Comments

During the event, Trump’s answer to a question about Boston included a comparable warning regarding the upcoming Summer Games.

“If I thought the city was not going to be sufficiently organized, I will move it to a different city if necessary,” Trump stated. “For the Olympics I may have to obtain a different kind of approval, but we would take that action.”

Official consent Trump refers to would have to come from the Olympic governing body. The leader, the newly elected president, was elected to her position in spring and has not yet appear together with him, though she indicated that she desires a discussion with the US figure at a future time.

Additional Criticism

He also criticized California governor Newsom’s handling of recent blazes, remarking that a comparable scenario could cause the removal of the event.

“When Newsom doesn’t play ball, we’re gonna have to be strict,” the former president stated.

His message was equally clear for the Massachusetts city.

“They must improve their situation,” Trump stated. “That is I will say.”