Donald Trump Suggests Relocation of FIFA World Cup Games from Boston, Olympics from California

Ex-president Trump has once again stated he would influence FIFA to remove upcoming World Cup events from a venue based on that city's politics, with the Boston region emerging as the most recent such city to encounter such warnings from the US president. Furthermore, Trump indicated he would contemplate comparable measures against LA for the 2028 Olympics due to potential safety issues.

Legal Authority and Possible Pressure

Although Trump lacks direct legal authority to directly relocate either tournament, he may exert influence the international organizations managing each event to change venues.

Setting for Statements

The remarks were made during a news conference with Javier Milei, who was present in the presidential residence following the revelation of a multibillion-dollar bailout for the South American economy. Near the conclusion of the gathering, a reporter inquired Trump about a recent public disturbance in Boston where authorities were targeted and a police vehicle was set on fire. The correspondent also asked if the situation could lead to the loss of tournament responsibilities for the larger football competition.

“It's possible to take them away,” the former president said regarding the soccer fixtures, planned to be hosted at the Foxborough venue. “Their mayor is ineffective … she is radical left, and activists are occupying sections of downtown. That’s a significant assertion, right?”

Urban Disturbances and Ideological Perceptions

Public disruptions, a digitally organized phenomenon where groups of people congregate on public avenues after dark to perform stunts, have become a frequent issue in metropolitan centers since the coronavirus closures. Recent incidents have become aggressive in Massachusetts, including Boston. Nevertheless, these events are generally not seen as tied to any specific partisan agenda.

“In cases where someone is doing a bad job, and I believe exist dangerous circumstances, I'd call Gianni [Infantino], who is outstanding, and suggest we should relocate it to a different city,” Trump commented publicly. “He will do that. He might not prefer the action, but he'd agree. Readily, he'd comply.”

FIFA Relationship

The organization's head has made no secret his efforts to be publicly aligned with the former president before the 2026 event, planned to be staged in 11 cities across the America along with a couple in the northern neighbor and a few in Mexico. The head has appeared at various Oval Office functions, arranged for Trump present the FIFA club award after the championship match, and has even delayed his the group's assembly to accompany Trump on a trip to the Middle East earlier in 2025.

Earlier Warnings

Despite this, Trump from warning about the relocation of World Cup matches from additional American venues. Recently, the Washington city and San Francisco were comparable comments, with Trump asserting both cities were “governed by ideological activists who don’t know what they're managing,” while criticizing the public safety of both locales and claiming that matches could be removed.

Official Rebuttal

Victor Montagliani rejected Trump’s claims when he responded subsequently at a gathering in London.

“This is FIFA’s tournament, our responsibility, FIFA makes those decisions,” Montagliani stated. “Politely to current world leaders, the sport is transcends any individual and soccer will survive their regime and their government. That’s the essence of this sport, that it is bigger than one leader and more important than a nation.”

2028 Comments

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

“In case I perceived the city was not adequately ready, I will relocate it to another location as needed,” he remarked. “On that one I’d probably have to secure a different kind of approval, but we would proceed.”

Any approval Trump alluded to would must come from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The president, the newly elected president, was chosen to her role in March and has so far not hold a public appearance with the former president, though she said that she hopes for a discussion with him at a future time.

Further Comments

Trump also condemned Gavin Newsom’s response of the blazes, saying that a comparable scenario could cause the cancellation of the Olympics.

“When the governor refuses to cooperate, we will have to be strict,” the former president said.

His statement was just as direct for the Massachusetts city.

“The city should improve their situation,” he said. “That’s all I can say.”