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Former President Trump has repeatedly declared he would pressure FIFA to pull upcoming World Cup matches from a host city based on the local political climate, with Massachusetts becoming the most recent targeted location to encounter such threats from the American leader. Moreover, Trump remarked he would consider similar action against Southern California for the 2028 Summer Games due to potential security concerns.

Legal Authority and Informal Leverage

Even though Trump does not have formal power to personally cancel either event, he can apply pressure the international organizations managing each tournament to move venues.

Setting for Statements

The statements were made during a news conference with Argentinian president Milei, who was at the White House following the disclosure of a $20 billion rescue package for the Argentine country. Near the end of the gathering, a reporter questioned Trump about a latest “street takeover” in downtown Boston where authorities were targeted and a cruiser was ignited. The journalist also questioned if such events could cause the revocation of organizing rights for the larger soccer tournament.

“We could take them away,” Trump remarked concerning the FIFA World Cup fixtures, scheduled to be held at the Foxborough venue. “She is not good … they're radical left, and activists are taking over areas of the city. That is a pretty big statement, right?”

Street Takeovers and Ideological Perceptions

Unauthorized gatherings, a online-fueled occurrence where groups of people congregate on urban roads after dark to engage in dangerous driving, have become a repeated issue in American cities since the lockdown closures. Latest such gatherings have become aggressive in the region, specifically in the city. Yet, these occurrences are usually not regarded as tied to any specific political ideology.

“If a city is performing poorly, and I feel exist security risks, I would call the organization's president, who is excellent, and say we should relocate it to another location,” he commented during the event. “He will do that. He may not enjoy doing it, but he would comply. Readily, he would.”

Organizational Alignment

Gianni Infantino has been open his efforts to be visibly associated with the US leader ahead of the 2026 event, set to be hosted in multiple US locations across the United States along with a couple in Canada and a few in the southern neighbor. The head has appeared at several Oval Office events, had Trump hand over the Club World Cup cup after the concluding game, and has even postponed his FIFA's internal meeting to travel with Trump on a visit to the Gulf states this year.

Earlier Warnings

Despite this, Trump from warning about the removal of soccer games from different locations. On September 25, the Washington city and San Francisco were similar statements, with Trump claiming both locations were “run by radical left lunatics who don’t know what they're managing,” while challenging the public safety of both cities and suggesting that matches could be removed.

Official Rebuttal

The organization's deputy Montagliani rejected Trump’s statements when he responded days later at a conference in the UK capital.

“It is the organization's event, our responsibility, we decide these matters,” Montagliani declared. “Politely to sitting presidents, football is more important than them and the game will outlast their tenure and their government. That is the essence of football, that it is more significant than any individual and bigger than any country.”

Olympics Threat

On Tuesday, Trump’s response to a query about Boston included a similar threat regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“In case I thought Los Angeles was not adequately ready, I will move it to an alternate venue if necessary,” Trump stated. “On that one I might have to get a different kind of consent, but we'd take that action.”

Any approval Trump refers to would need to come through the Olympic governing body. The head, she, was selected to her role in spring and has yet to meet publicly with Trump, though she said that she hopes for a meeting with him at a future time.

Further Comments

He also questioned the state's leader Newsom’s response of the California fires, stating that a comparable scenario could cause the cancellation of the event.

“When he doesn’t play ball, we’re gonna have to be firm,” Trump said.

The warning was just as clear for Boston.

“The city better improve their situation,” he said. “That is I can say.”