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Former President Trump has repeatedly stated he would influence FIFA to pull global soccer tournament events from a venue based on the local political climate, with the Boston region becoming the latest such city to encounter such statements from the American leader. Moreover, Trump indicated he would evaluate similar action against Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympics due to perceived safety issues.

Official Power and Potential Influence

Even though Trump holds no direct legal authority to personally cancel either tournament, he is able to exert influence the international organizations overseeing each event to shift host cities.

Setting for Statements

These comments were made during a press event with Argentinian president Milei, who was visiting the White House following the disclosure of a massive financial assistance for the South American nation. At the end of the gathering, a reporter asked Trump about a latest public disturbance in the city where authorities were assaulted and a police vehicle was set on fire. The reporter also wondered if such events could result in the loss of hosting duties for the expanded football competition.

“It's possible to take them away,” the former president stated regarding the FIFA World Cup games, planned to be staged at Gillette Stadium. “She is not good … they're extremist, and they’re taking over areas of downtown. It's a major assertion, right?”

Public Gatherings and Ideological Perceptions

Street takeovers, a online-fueled trend where large crowds congregate on urban roads during nighttime to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have been a repeated problem in metropolitan centers since the lockdown closures. Latest such gatherings have turned violent in the state, notably in downtown. However, these occurrences are usually not regarded as associated with any distinct partisan agenda.

“When a mayor is doing a bad job, and I perceive there are security risks, I'd call Gianni [Infantino], who is phenomenal, and suggest we should relocate it to another location,” Trump stated during the event. “He will do that. He might not prefer doing it, but he’d do it. Readily, he would.”

Political Connections

The organization's head has publicly acknowledged his efforts to be publicly aligned with Trump before next year’s tournament, scheduled to be organized in numerous American venues across the US along with a couple in the northern neighbor and a few in Mexico. The head has appeared at multiple Oval Office functions, arranged for Trump present the club tournament trophy after the championship match, and has even delayed his FIFA's internal meeting to join Trump on a journey to the Middle East earlier in 2025.

Past Statements

Nevertheless, Trump from warning about the removal of FIFA World Cup events from additional American venues. Recently, the Washington city and San Francisco came under comparable comments, with Trump asserting both urban centers were “run by radical left lunatics who lack understanding what they’re doing,” while challenging the security conditions of both areas and suggesting that matches could be removed.

Official Rebuttal

The organization's deputy Montagliani dismissed Trump’s statements when he commented subsequently at a gathering in London.

“This is FIFA’s tournament, our responsibility, FIFA makes such choices,” the vice-president declared. “Politely to national heads, soccer is transcends any individual and football will endure their administration and their leadership. That is the beauty of our game, that it is bigger than a single person and beyond a nation.”

LA Games Warning

Similarly, Trump’s answer to a inquiry about Boston included a comparable warning regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“If I perceived Los Angeles was not going to be sufficiently organized, I would shift it to another location if necessary,” he remarked. “For the Olympics I’d probably have to secure a varying consent, but we will proceed.”

The permission Trump mentioned would need to come through the Olympic governing body. Their president, the newly elected president, was selected to her role in spring and has so far not meet publicly with Trump, though she stated that she would like a sit-down with him at some point.

Other Remarks

He also criticized California governor Newsom’s management of the California fires, stating that a parallel incident could result in the removal of the Olympics.

“When the governor doesn’t play ball, we are going to have to be firm,” Trump said.

His statement was just as clear for Boston.

“Boston better clean up their act,” he remarked. “It's my message.”