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Former President Trump has yet again declared he would influence FIFA to pull 2026 World Cup events from a venue based on that city's politics, with Massachusetts emerging as the latest such city to receive such threats from the American leader. Furthermore, Trump indicated he would evaluate similar action against LA for the 2028 Olympics due to possible public safety risks.

Legal Authority and Possible Pressure

While Trump holds no direct legal authority to unilaterally remove either tournament, he may apply pressure the international organizations overseeing each tournament to change host cities.

Background of Comments

The comments were made during a press event with Javier Milei, who was present in the presidential residence following the announcement of a $20 billion rescue package for the Argentine nation. Near the close of the event, a reporter asked Trump about a latest unauthorized gathering in the city where law enforcement were targeted and a patrol car was burned. The reporter also questioned if such events could result in the removal of hosting duties for the 48-team football competition.

“I would take them away,” Trump remarked concerning the FIFA World Cup matches, scheduled to be staged at the Massachusetts arena. “The city's leader is poor … they're extremist, and activists are occupying parts of Boston. It's a pretty big assertion, don't you think?”

Urban Disturbances and Public Safety Concerns

Unauthorized gatherings, a digitally organized trend where large crowds assemble on public avenues after dark to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have been a repeated nuisance in metropolitan centers since the lockdown closures. Latest similar events have turned violent in Massachusetts, notably in the city. However, these gatherings are typically not considered tied to any specific partisan agenda.

“If a mayor is failing, and I believe there are dangerous circumstances, I will call the organization's president, who is phenomenal, and tell him let’s move it to another location,” Trump stated on Tuesday. “He will do that. He may not enjoy to do it, but he would comply. Readily, he would.”

Political Connections

FIFA President has been open his attempts to be visibly associated with the US leader prior to the 2026 event, planned to be hosted in numerous American venues across the United States along with several in the northern neighbor and three in the southern neighbor. The FIFA president has participated at several Oval Office functions, arranged for Trump deliver the club tournament trophy after the concluding game, and has even rescheduled his own organization’s congress to accompany Trump on a journey to the Middle East this year.

Past Statements

This has not stopped, Trump from threatening the removal of soccer matches from other US host cities. In late September, the Washington city and San Francisco were similar comments, with Trump asserting both cities were “governed by ideological activists who lack understanding what they are doing,” while questioning the public safety of both locales and implying that games could be relocated.

FIFA Response

The organization's deputy Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s claims when he commented days later at a gathering in the UK capital.

“It’s our competition, FIFA’s jurisdiction, the organization determines those decisions,” the vice-president stated. “Politely to sitting presidents, soccer is bigger than them and football will endure their tenure and their government. It's the essence of football, that it is transcends a single person and bigger than any country.”

Olympics Threat

Similarly, Trump’s reply to a inquiry about the Massachusetts city extended to a similar threat regarding the upcoming Summer Games.

“If I perceived LA was failing to be adequately ready, I'd move it to an alternate venue if I had to,” Trump stated. “For the Olympics I’d probably have to get a different kind of consent, but we would proceed.”

The permission Trump alluded to would need to come through the IOC. Their head, she, was chosen to her post in this year and has so far not hold a public appearance with him, though she stated that she hopes for a meeting with the US figure at a future time.

Further Comments

He also criticized Gavin Newsom’s management of this year’s California fires, stating that a comparable scenario could lead to the removal of the event.

“In case the governor doesn’t play ball, we’re gonna have to be very tough,” Trump said.

His message was similarly direct for Boston.

“They better improve their situation,” he said. “That’s all my message.”