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Former President Trump has once again declared he would urge FIFA to relocate upcoming World Cup matches from a host city based on municipal politics, with Boston emerging as the third urban area to face such statements from the American leader. Moreover, Trump indicated he would evaluate comparable measures against Southern California for the 2028 Summer Games due to possible security concerns.

Jurisdictional Limits and Informal Leverage

Although Trump holds no formal power to directly relocate either tournament, he may exert influence the respective governing bodies managing each event to change venues.

Background of Comments

The comments were made during a media briefing with Argentinian president Milei, who was visiting the presidential residence following the announcement of a massive bailout for the Latin American nation. Toward the close of the meeting, a media member inquired Trump about a current public disturbance in Boston where law enforcement were assaulted and a police vehicle was ignited. The correspondent also questioned if the situation could cause the loss of organizing rights for the larger World Cup.

“I would take them away,” he remarked about the FIFA World Cup games, planned to be hosted at Gillette Stadium. “Their mayor is poor … she’s extremist, and activists are occupying parts of the city. That is a major statement, right?”

Street Takeovers and Political Context

Street takeovers, a digitally organized trend where large crowds assemble on city streets during nighttime to engage in dangerous driving, have been a repeated issue in American cities since the coronavirus restrictions. Latest such gatherings have escalated into violence in the state, including Boston. Yet, these gatherings are generally not seen as associated with any particular ideological group.

“When someone is doing a bad job, and I believe there’s unsafe conditions, I will call the organization's president, who is excellent, and say let’s move it to an alternate venue,” he commented during the event. “He will do that. He wouldn’t love doing it, but he'd agree. Very easily, he would.”

FIFA Relationship

The organization's head has made no secret his strategies to be visibly associated with the US leader before next year’s tournament, set to be staged in 11 cities across the US along with two in the northern neighbor and three in the southern neighbor. The FIFA president has participated at multiple Oval Office gatherings, arranged for Trump present the FIFA club award after that tournament’s final, and has even postponed his own organization’s congress to accompany Trump on a journey to the Middle East previously.

Earlier Warnings

This has not stopped, Trump from threatening the cancellation of FIFA World Cup events from other US host cities. Recently, the Washington city and the Bay Area metropolis were comparable statements, with Trump claiming both cities were “governed by far-left extremists who don’t know what they're managing,” while criticizing the public safety of both areas and implying that games could be removed.

FIFA Response

FIFA vice-president Montagliani dismissed Trump’s claims when he responded days later at a conference in the UK capital.

“It is the organization's event, our responsibility, FIFA makes those decisions,” Montagliani declared. “Politely to current world leaders, the sport is more important than any individual and soccer will survive their administration and their leadership. That is the essence of our game, that it is more significant than a single person and bigger than a nation.”

LA Games Warning

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

“When I believed LA was not going to be sufficiently organized, I'd shift it to another location if necessary,” he remarked. “For the Olympics I may have to secure a alternative permission, but we would proceed.”

Official consent Trump refers to would must come through the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The leader, the newly elected president, was elected to her position in spring and has so far not meet publicly with the former president, but she said that she would like a discussion with the US figure at some point.

Further Comments

Trump also criticized the state's leader Newsom’s handling of the California fires, remarking that a comparable scenario could lead to the removal of the Olympics.

“When the governor refuses to cooperate, we will have to be very tough,” the former president commented.

His message was equally direct for the Massachusetts city.

“Boston should improve their situation,” he remarked. “It's I will say.”