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Ex-president Trump has once again announced he would pressure FIFA to remove upcoming World Cup matches from a designated city based on municipal politics, with the Boston region now being the third targeted location to face such warnings from the US president. Furthermore, Trump suggested he would consider parallel steps against Southern California for the 2028 Olympics due to potential security concerns.

Legal Authority and Possible Pressure

Even though Trump lacks direct legal authority to personally cancel either competition, he is able to lobby the international organizations in charge of each tournament to shift venues.

Context of Remarks

His comments were made during a news conference with Javier Milei, who was visiting the presidential residence following the announcement of a $20 billion financial assistance for the Argentine nation. Near the close of the meeting, a media member inquired Trump about a recent unauthorized gathering in downtown Boston where authorities were targeted and a cruiser was burned. The correspondent also asked if these incidents could result in the removal of organizing rights for the expanded football competition.

“It's possible to take them away,” Trump stated about the soccer games, planned to be staged at Gillette Stadium. “The city's leader is poor … she’s extremist, and they’re dominating areas of Boston. It's a pretty big statement, don't you think?”

Street Takeovers and Ideological Perceptions

Public disruptions, a digitally organized phenomenon where large crowds congregate on city streets late at night to engage in dangerous driving, have been a repeated nuisance in US urban areas since the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. Current such gatherings have turned violent in Massachusetts, specifically in downtown. Nevertheless, these events are typically not seen as linked to any distinct ideological group.

“If someone is performing poorly, and I believe there’s unsafe conditions, I'd call Gianni [Infantino], who is phenomenal, and suggest it should be shifted to a different city,” he said publicly. “He will do that. He might not prefer the action, but he would comply. Without hesitation, he would.”

Organizational Alignment

Gianni Infantino has publicly acknowledged his attempts to be visibly associated with the former president prior to the 2026 event, planned to be staged in multiple US locations across the US along with several in the northern neighbor and multiple in the southern neighbor. The organization's leader has appeared at several White House events, facilitated Trump present the club tournament trophy after the concluding game, and has even postponed his the group's assembly to join Trump on a trip to the Arab region this year.

Previous Threats

Nevertheless, Trump from threatening the removal of World Cup games from other US host cities. Recently, the Washington city and the Bay Area metropolis were parallel statements, with Trump stating both cities were “governed by ideological activists who don’t know what they’re doing,” while questioning the public safety of both areas and claiming that games could be relocated.

FIFA Response

Victor Montagliani dismissed Trump’s assertions when he responded afterward at a event in London.

“This is the organization's event, FIFA’s jurisdiction, we decide such choices,” he said. “Respectfully to current world leaders, football is bigger than them and football will survive their regime and their government. It's the beauty of our game, that it is more significant than any individual and beyond a nation.”

Olympics Threat

On Tuesday, Trump’s reply to a query about Boston extended to a similar threat regarding the LA Olympic event.

“When I thought Los Angeles was not going to be prepared properly, I'd shift it to an alternate venue as needed,” he remarked. “On that one I’d probably have to secure a varying approval, but we would do that.”

Any approval Trump alluded to would need to come from the IOC. The head, Kirsty Coventry, was selected to her position in this year and has not yet meet publicly with the former president, though she stated that she desires a discussion with the US figure at some point.

Other Remarks

Trump also condemned California governor Newsom’s response of this year’s blazes, saying that a comparable scenario could cause the relocation of the Games.

“If Newsom refuses to cooperate, we are going to have to be strict,” he said.

His message was similarly direct for the Massachusetts city.

“They better address these issues,” Trump stated. “That’s all my message.”