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Ex-president Trump has repeatedly announced he would urge FIFA to remove global soccer tournament games from a designated city based on that city's political climate, with Boston now being the most recent such city to encounter such warnings from the US president. Additionally, Trump remarked he would contemplate similar action against Southern California for the 2028 Olympics due to potential public safety risks.

Legal Authority and Potential Influence

Although Trump lacks direct legal authority to unilaterally remove either competition, he is able to apply pressure the respective governing bodies in charge of each tournament to move venues.

Background of Comments

His statements were made during a press event with Argentina's leader Milei, who was visiting the executive mansion following the disclosure of a $20 billion rescue package for the South American nation. Toward the conclusion of the event, a journalist questioned Trump about a current “street takeover” in the city where authorities were attacked and a police vehicle was set on fire. The reporter also questioned if the situation could cause the removal of organizing rights for the 48-team World Cup.

“We could take them away,” Trump remarked about the FIFA World Cup matches, set to be staged at the Massachusetts arena. “Their mayor is ineffective … she’s far-left, and they’re dominating sections of downtown. That is a significant statement, don't you think?”

Street Takeovers and Public Safety Concerns

Street takeovers, a digitally organized trend where groups of people assemble on urban roads during nighttime to perform stunts, have been a repeated issue in US urban areas since the Covid-19 pandemic closures. Latest similar events have become aggressive in Massachusetts, specifically in Boston. Nevertheless, these events are generally not seen as associated with any distinct ideological group.

“When a mayor is performing poorly, and I believe there’s dangerous circumstances, I will call the FIFA head, who is excellent, and say let’s move it to another location,” he said on Tuesday. “He will do that. He wouldn’t love doing it, but he would comply. Very easily, he would.”

Organizational Alignment

FIFA President has made no secret his efforts to be closely connected with the US leader before the 2026 event, planned to be hosted in 11 cities across the US along with a couple in Canada and multiple in Mexico. The organization's leader has participated at various Oval Office functions, facilitated Trump deliver the club tournament award after that tournament’s final, and has even rescheduled his the group's assembly to travel with Trump on a trip to the Gulf states earlier in 2025.

Earlier Warnings

This has not stopped, Trump from threatening the removal of soccer games from other US host cities. Recently, Seattle and the Bay Area metropolis were comparable statements, with Trump stating both urban centers were “governed by radical left lunatics who lack understanding what they are doing,” while criticizing the public safety of both cities and suggesting that matches could be relocated.

FIFA Response

Victor Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s statements when he responded subsequently at a conference in the UK capital.

“This is our competition, under our authority, the organization determines such choices,” the vice-president said. “With all due respect to current world leaders, the sport is bigger than them and the game will endure their administration and their government. That is the beauty of our game, that it is more significant than any individual and more important than any country.”

Olympics Threat

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

“When I thought the city was not going to be prepared properly, I will move it to another location if I had to,” he remarked. “For the Olympics I’d probably have to get a different kind of consent, but we would do that.”

The permission Trump mentioned would have to come through the IOC. Their head, the newly elected president, was elected to her position in March and has yet to appear together with him, though she stated that she would like a sit-down with Trump at some point.

Additional Criticism

He also criticized California governor Newsom’s management of recent blazes, saying that a parallel incident could result in the relocation of the Olympics.

“In case Newsom doesn’t play ball, we are going to have to be firm,” the former president commented.

His statement was equally clear for the Massachusetts city.

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