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Former President Trump has once again stated he would pressure FIFA to pull global soccer tournament events from a host city based on municipal governance, with Boston emerging as the latest such city to face such warnings from the American leader. Moreover, Trump remarked he would evaluate similar action against Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Games due to possible safety issues.

Official Power and Informal Leverage

Even though Trump holds no formal power to unilaterally remove either event, he can exert influence the organizing committees in charge of each competition to move host cities.

Context of Remarks

These statements were made during a news conference with Argentina's leader Milei, who was at the White House following the disclosure of a multibillion-dollar bailout for the Argentine country. Toward the end of the gathering, a reporter questioned Trump about a recent unauthorized gathering in Boston where police officers were targeted and a police vehicle was set on fire. The correspondent also questioned if such events could result in the removal of hosting duties for the larger soccer tournament.

“I would take them away,” the former president remarked concerning the World Cup matches, planned to be held at Gillette Stadium. “She is not good … they're extremist, and they are taking over sections of the city. That’s a major assertion, right?”

Urban Disturbances and Ideological Perceptions

Unauthorized gatherings, a digitally organized occurrence where participants congregate on public avenues during nighttime to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have been a ongoing issue in American cities since the coronavirus shutdowns. Latest similar events have become aggressive in the region, specifically in the city. However, these gatherings are usually not seen as associated with any specific ideological group.

“In cases where a mayor is failing, and I perceive there’s security risks, I will call Gianni [Infantino], who is outstanding, and suggest we should relocate it to a different city,” he said on Tuesday. “He will do that. He may not enjoy doing it, but he would comply. Very easily, he’d do it.”

Organizational Alignment

Gianni Infantino has made no secret his efforts to be visibly associated with Trump prior to next year’s tournament, scheduled to be staged in multiple US locations across the America along with a couple in Canada and three in Mexico. The FIFA president has appeared at several presidential gatherings, had Trump deliver the club tournament trophy after the championship match, and has even postponed his own organization’s congress to travel with Trump on a trip to the Arab region earlier in 2025.

Previous Threats

Despite this, Trump from warning about the cancellation of FIFA World Cup games from additional American venues. In late September, the Washington city and San Francisco were comparable comments, with Trump asserting both locations were “led by far-left extremists who don’t know what they’re doing,” while criticizing the safety level of both cities and suggesting that games could be relocated.

Official Rebuttal

Victor Montagliani rejected Trump’s claims when he responded subsequently at a event in England.

“It’s the organization's event, our responsibility, FIFA makes these matters,” he stated. “With all due respect to current world leaders, soccer is bigger than them and the game will endure their administration and their leadership. That is the essence of this sport, that it is bigger than any individual and bigger than any country.”

Olympics Threat

Similarly, Trump’s reply to a question about Boston extended to a parallel statement regarding the upcoming Summer Games.

“In case I thought the city was failing to be prepared properly, I would shift it to another location as needed,” he remarked. “Regarding that event I might have to secure a different kind of consent, but we will proceed.”

Any approval Trump mentioned would must come through the Olympic governing body. The leader, she, was chosen to her post in spring and has yet to appear together with the former president, although she indicated that she hopes for a meeting with Trump at some point.

Further Comments

Trump also criticized the state's leader Newsom’s management of this year’s blazes, remarking that a similar situation could lead to the relocation of the Olympics.

“If he refuses to cooperate, we will have to be firm,” Trump stated.

His message was just as clear for the Massachusetts city.

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