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Donald Trump has once again announced he would pressure FIFA to pull global soccer tournament matches from a venue based on municipal politics, with Boston now being the third urban area to face such statements from the American leader. Furthermore, Trump remarked he would contemplate similar action against Southern California for the upcoming Olympic Games due to possible public safety risks.

Legal Authority and Potential Influence

Even though Trump does not have direct legal authority to unilaterally remove either tournament, he may lobby the respective governing bodies in charge of each competition to change locations.

Background of Comments

His statements were made during a news conference with Argentina's leader Milei, who was visiting the executive mansion following the disclosure of a $20 billion financial assistance for the Argentine nation. At the close of the event, a journalist asked Trump about a current public disturbance in Boston where law enforcement were targeted and a cruiser was set on fire. The correspondent also questioned if such events could result in the removal of tournament responsibilities for the 48-team World Cup.

“It's possible to take them away,” the former president stated about the World Cup games, set to be held at Gillette Stadium. “The city's leader is poor … they're extremist, and they are dominating areas of Boston. It's a significant assertion, isn't it?”

Public Gatherings and Political Context

Unauthorized gatherings, a online-fueled occurrence where participants assemble on urban roads late at night to perform stunts, have emerged as a repeated nuisance in US urban areas since the lockdown shutdowns. Recent similar events have become aggressive in the region, notably in Boston. However, these occurrences are generally not considered associated with any specific political ideology.

“When a city is failing, and I feel exist security risks, I'd call the FIFA head, who is phenomenal, and suggest let’s move it to an alternate venue,” he said during the event. “He'd do that. He might not prefer doing it, but he'd agree. Without hesitation, he'd comply.”

Organizational Alignment

The organization's head has made no secret his strategies to be publicly aligned with the US leader prior to the 2026 event, set to be staged in numerous American venues across the US along with a couple in the northern neighbor and three in the southern neighbor. The organization's leader has appeared at several Oval Office gatherings, had Trump present the Club World Cup award after the championship match, and has even delayed his the group's assembly to travel with Trump on a journey to the Middle East earlier in 2025.

Previous Threats

Nevertheless, Trump from warning about the relocation of FIFA World Cup matches from different locations. In late September, the Washington city and San Francisco were similar criticism, with Trump claiming both cities were “led by far-left extremists who are clueless what they're managing,” while questioning the public safety of both locales and claiming that events could be removed.

Official Rebuttal

The organization's deputy Montagliani dismissed Trump’s assertions when he responded subsequently at a gathering in England.

“It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction, the organization determines those decisions,” he declared. “Respectfully to national heads, the sport is bigger than any individual and the game will survive their tenure and their government. That is the strength of this sport, that it is bigger than a single person and beyond individual states.”

Olympics Threat

On Tuesday, Trump’s reply to a query about Boston extended to a parallel statement regarding the upcoming Summer Games.

“If I perceived LA was failing to be sufficiently organized, I will shift it to an alternate venue if I had to,” Trump stated. “For the Olympics I may have to secure a different kind of consent, but we'd take that action.”

The permission Trump refers to would must come via the Olympic governing body. The president, Kirsty Coventry, was selected to her role in this year and has yet to appear together with him, although she said that she hopes for a meeting with the US figure at some point.

Additional Criticism

Trump also condemned the state's leader Newsom’s management of the California fires, remarking that a similar situation could lead to the removal of the event.

“If the governor doesn’t play ball, we will have to be strict,” Trump stated.

The warning was equally direct for the Massachusetts city.

“Boston must address these issues,” Trump stated. “That’s all my message.”