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Donald Trump has yet again stated he would influence FIFA to pull global soccer tournament matches from a host city based on that city's political climate, with Massachusetts now being the third urban area to face such warnings from the US president. Moreover, Trump remarked he would consider similar action against Southern California for the 2028 Olympics due to possible safety issues.

Jurisdictional Limits and Possible Pressure

Even though Trump does not have direct legal authority to personally cancel either event, he can exert influence the organizing committees overseeing each event to move locations.

Background of Comments

His statements were made during a press event with Argentinian president Milei, who was at the White House following the revelation of a massive bailout for the Argentine economy. Near the end of the meeting, a reporter questioned Trump about a latest “street takeover” in the city where law enforcement were assaulted and a police vehicle was burned. The reporter also questioned if these incidents could cause the revocation of organizing rights for the larger soccer tournament.

“It's possible to take them away,” he remarked about the soccer fixtures, scheduled to be hosted at the Foxborough venue. “The city's leader is ineffective … she’s far-left, and activists are occupying areas of the city. It's a significant assertion, don't you think?”

Urban Disturbances and Ideological Perceptions

Unauthorized gatherings, a social media-driven phenomenon where large crowds gather on public avenues after dark to engage in dangerous driving, have been a repeated issue in US urban areas since the lockdown closures. Recent such gatherings have become aggressive in the region, specifically in Boston. Yet, these gatherings are usually not regarded as tied to any particular partisan agenda.

“When a mayor is performing poorly, and I perceive exist dangerous circumstances, I will call the organization's president, who is excellent, and suggest let’s move it to an alternate venue,” Trump said on Tuesday. “And he would do that. He might not prefer the action, but he'd agree. Readily, he’d do it.”

Organizational Alignment

The organization's head has been open his strategies to be visibly associated with the former president ahead of the 2026 event, scheduled to be hosted in numerous American venues across the United States along with a couple in Canada and three in Mexico. The head has appeared at various presidential gatherings, arranged for Trump deliver the club tournament cup after the concluding game, and has even rescheduled his FIFA's internal meeting to accompany Trump on a trip to the Gulf states earlier in 2025.

Past Statements

Despite this, Trump from suggesting the relocation of World Cup games from different locations. Recently, Seattle and the Bay Area metropolis came under comparable criticism, with Trump asserting both cities were “run by ideological activists who don’t know what they’re doing,” while questioning the public safety of both areas and claiming that events could be shifted.

FIFA Response

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

“It’s the organization's event, under our authority, the organization determines those decisions,” the vice-president stated. “With all due respect to sitting presidents, football is more important than any individual and the game will endure their regime and their policies. That is the strength of this sport, that it is transcends a single person and beyond a nation.”

Olympics Threat

During the event, Trump’s reply to a query about Boston veered into a parallel statement regarding the upcoming Summer Games.

“If I thought the city was not going to be prepared properly, I'd relocate it to another location if I had to,” Trump stated. “On that one I may have to get a different kind of consent, but we will take that action.”

The permission Trump mentioned would must come via the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The president, the newly elected president, was selected to her position in spring and has yet to meet publicly with the former president, but she said that she hopes for a discussion with Trump at eventually.

Additional Criticism

The former president also questioned the state's leader Newsom’s response of this year’s California fires, saying that a similar situation could lead to the removal of the event.

“In case the governor doesn’t play ball, we are going to have to be firm,” Trump commented.

His statement was just as clear for the Massachusetts city.

“The city should address these issues,” Trump stated. “That is I will say.”