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Ex-president Trump has repeatedly declared he would urge FIFA to pull 2026 World Cup matches from a venue based on that city's political climate, with Boston becoming the latest such city to face such warnings from the US president. Moreover, Trump remarked he would contemplate similar action against Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympics due to possible public safety risks.

Legal Authority and Informal Leverage

Although Trump does not have direct legal authority to unilaterally remove either event, he can lobby the international organizations in charge of each event to shift locations.

Context of Remarks

His comments were made during a news conference with Argentinian president Milei, who was visiting the executive mansion following the revelation of a $20 billion financial assistance for the Latin American nation. At the close of the gathering, a reporter asked Trump about a recent unauthorized gathering in the city where authorities were assaulted and a police vehicle was ignited. The journalist also questioned if these incidents could result in the revocation of hosting duties for the 48-team soccer tournament.

“I would take them away,” he stated about the FIFA World Cup matches, scheduled to be held at the Foxborough venue. “She is ineffective … she is extremist, and they’re dominating areas of the city. That is a major claim, right?”

Public Gatherings and Political Context

Unauthorized gatherings, a online-fueled phenomenon where large crowds congregate on urban roads during nighttime to engage in dangerous driving, have been a repeated problem in American cities since the Covid-19 pandemic shutdowns. Current incidents have turned violent in Massachusetts, specifically in downtown. However, these events are typically not seen as linked to any specific political ideology.

“In cases where a city is doing a bad job, and I perceive there’s security risks, I will call Gianni [Infantino], who is phenomenal, and tell him it should be shifted to a different city,” the former president stated during the event. “He'd do that. He wouldn’t love the action, but he would comply. Without hesitation, he’d do it.”

Organizational Alignment

FIFA President has made no secret his efforts to be publicly aligned with the former president before the upcoming World Cup, planned to be organized in numerous American venues across the US along with a couple in the northern neighbor and three in Mexico. The organization's leader has participated at multiple Oval Office functions, arranged for Trump hand over the club tournament cup after the concluding game, and has even rescheduled his own organization’s congress to accompany Trump on a journey to the Arab region this year.

Earlier Warnings

Despite this, Trump from warning about the removal of FIFA World Cup games from other US host cities. In late September, Seattle and the Bay Area metropolis faced comparable criticism, with Trump claiming both urban centers were “led by far-left extremists who lack understanding what they’re doing,” while challenging the safety level of both cities and claiming that events could be removed.

Official Rebuttal

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

“This is the organization's event, under our authority, FIFA makes these matters,” he declared. “Politely to sitting presidents, the sport is more important than them and football will outlast their regime and their policies. That is the strength of this sport, that it is more significant than any individual and beyond a nation.”

LA Games Warning

On Tuesday, Trump’s answer to a inquiry about the Massachusetts city included a parallel statement regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“In case I perceived the city was failing to be prepared properly, I will shift it to a different city if necessary,” he said. “For the Olympics I’d probably have to secure a alternative consent, but we would proceed.”

The permission Trump mentioned would must come from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The leader, she, was elected to her position in March and has so far not meet publicly with the former president, though she said that she would like a sit-down with the US figure at some point.

Other Remarks

He also condemned the state's leader Newsom’s management of the blazes, stating that a comparable scenario could lead to the cancellation of the Games.

“In case Newsom doesn’t play ball, we will have to be very tough,” he said.

His statement was equally unambiguous for Boston.

“They should clean up their act,” Trump stated. “That’s all I will say.”