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Former President Trump has repeatedly stated he would pressure FIFA to remove global soccer tournament events from a host city based on that city's politics, with Boston emerging as the latest targeted location to face such warnings from the White House. Furthermore, Trump suggested he would evaluate parallel steps against Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Games due to potential public safety risks.

Official Power and Possible Pressure

Although Trump holds no official jurisdiction to unilaterally remove either tournament, he can lobby the international organizations in charge of each competition to move host cities.

Setting for Statements

His remarks were made during a press event with Javier Milei, who was present in the executive mansion following the announcement of a massive financial assistance for the Latin American economy. Toward the conclusion of the gathering, a media member asked Trump about a latest unauthorized gathering in downtown Boston where law enforcement were attacked and a police vehicle was burned. The correspondent also wondered if such events could lead to the revocation of tournament responsibilities for the expanded World Cup.

“It's possible to take them away,” Trump remarked regarding the FIFA World Cup matches, planned to be staged at Gillette Stadium. “Their mayor is not good … she is extremist, and activists are dominating sections of downtown. It's a major claim, isn't it?”

Street Takeovers and Public Safety Concerns

Public disruptions, a social media-driven phenomenon where participants assemble on public avenues during nighttime to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have been a repeated issue in metropolitan centers since the Covid-19 pandemic closures. Recent similar events have escalated into violence in Massachusetts, notably in the city. Nevertheless, these events are typically not seen as linked to any particular political ideology.

“When a mayor is failing, and I feel exist unsafe conditions, I would call the FIFA head, who is excellent, and say let’s move it to a different city,” the former president said during the event. “He will do that. He might not prefer to do it, but he would comply. Very easily, he would.”

Political Connections

The organization's head has made no secret his strategies to be visibly associated with Trump before next year’s tournament, set to be staged in numerous American venues across the America along with a couple in the northern neighbor and multiple in Mexico. The organization's leader has been present at multiple White House functions, had Trump deliver the FIFA club trophy after the championship match, and has even postponed his FIFA's internal meeting to travel with Trump on a visit to the Gulf states earlier in 2025.

Previous Threats

Despite this, Trump from suggesting the cancellation of FIFA World Cup matches from different locations. Recently, Seattle and San Francisco faced parallel criticism, with Trump claiming both urban centers were “governed by ideological activists who don’t know what they are doing,” while challenging the public safety of both locales and claiming that games could be shifted.

Official Rebuttal

The organization's deputy Montagliani rejected Trump’s claims when he responded subsequently at a event in England.

“It is FIFA’s tournament, under our authority, the organization determines those decisions,” Montagliani said. “With all due respect to sitting presidents, the sport is bigger than political figures and soccer will endure their regime and their government. That is the essence of this sport, that it is bigger than a single person and more important than any country.”

LA Games Warning

Similarly, Trump’s reply to a inquiry about the Massachusetts city included a parallel statement regarding the upcoming Summer Games.

“In case I believed Los Angeles was not going to be prepared properly, I will move it to an alternate venue if I had to,” Trump stated. “On that one I’d probably have to secure a varying consent, but we'd proceed.”

Official consent Trump refers to would must come via the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The head, Kirsty Coventry, was elected to her role in spring and has not yet appear together with Trump, although she indicated that she would like a sit-down with Trump at a future time.

Further Comments

Trump also condemned Gavin Newsom’s management of this year’s LA wildfires, stating that a comparable scenario could cause the cancellation of the event.

“When Newsom doesn’t play ball, we will have to be strict,” Trump commented.

His message was similarly direct for Boston.

“Boston must clean up their act,” he said. “It's my message.”