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Boston's mayor, Michelle Wu, indicated that the city was prepared for a dispute with US President Donald Trump regarding his assertion that he could instruct FIFA to relocate World Cup matches from the stadium in Foxborough, located approximately 35 kilometers southwest of Boston.

Mayor Wu appeared on a local podcast recently to address criticism from the Trump administration, which had described her as "radical left." President Trump had warned that he would call the head of FIFA if Boston did not "clean up its act."

A great deal of it is locked down by contract so that no one, even the president, can change it.

She continued, "We're in a world where for attention, for control, for pushing the boundaries ... ongoing threats ... are issued at individuals and communities who refuse to back down and comply or follow along to a divisive plan."

Mayor Wu also remarked, "We are going to continue being ourselves, and that means, unfortunately, we are going to be in a conversation that is challenging what Boston stands for." Wu concluded by emphasizing her commitment for the city, saying, "Ten toes down for our city."

Trump's Comments and FIFA Role

Earlier this week, FIFA President Gianni Infantino was photographed alongside President Trump at the international summit in Sharm el-Sheikh. Infantino has also been to the Oval Office and presented World Cup tournament and club championship awards to Trump as presents.

On Tuesday, Trump was questioned on unrest in a Boston neighborhood that involved a police car being set on fire. Trump replied, "If things aren't handled well, and if I feel there's unsafe conditions, I would call Gianni – the head of the organization, who's phenomenal."

He added, "I would say: 'Let's move into another location' and they would do that. He wouldn't love to do it. But he would do it without hesitation." Trump also specifically targeted Mayor Wu, stating, "Boston's mayor is ineffective ... she's far-left, and they're dominating some areas in Boston. That's a strong claim, right?"

Previous Threats and 2026 World Cup Details

Trump has made previous comments that he would have the similar discussion with the FIFA president about relocating games from Seattle and San Francisco, which are among the 16 host cities across the continent.

The US is co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with neighboring countries. The 48-team event is planned to be played from June 11 to July 19 next summer.