Donald Trump Suggests Removal of FIFA World Cup Games from Boston, Olympic Games from Los Angeles

Ex-president Trump has repeatedly declared he would influence FIFA to pull upcoming World Cup matches from a venue based on that city's political climate, with Massachusetts emerging as the third urban area to receive such warnings from the White House. Moreover, Trump remarked he would evaluate similar action against Southern California for the upcoming Olympic Games due to possible safety issues.

Legal Authority and Possible Pressure

Although Trump holds no direct legal authority to directly relocate either event, he can apply pressure the international organizations overseeing each competition to change venues.

Background of Comments

His comments were made during a press event with Argentina's leader Milei, who was visiting the executive mansion following the revelation of a multibillion-dollar bailout for the Latin American nation. Near the end of the gathering, a media member inquired Trump about a recent “street takeover” in Boston where authorities were attacked and a police vehicle was set on fire. The correspondent also questioned if these incidents could cause the revocation of organizing rights for the 48-team football competition.

“It's possible to take them away,” the former president stated about the soccer games, planned to be staged at the Foxborough venue. “Their mayor is poor … she is radical left, and they are occupying sections of Boston. That’s a pretty big claim, isn't it?”

Public Gatherings and Political Context

Unauthorized gatherings, a online-fueled phenomenon where large crowds congregate on public avenues during nighttime to engage in dangerous driving, have become a ongoing problem in US urban areas since the Covid-19 pandemic shutdowns. Latest incidents have turned violent in Massachusetts, including downtown. However, these gatherings are generally not regarded as tied to any specific political ideology.

“In cases where someone is doing a bad job, and I believe there’s dangerous circumstances, I will call the organization's president, who is phenomenal, and tell him we should relocate it to a different city,” the former president said during the event. “And he would do that. He wouldn’t love to do it, but he’d do it. Without hesitation, he’d do it.”

Political Connections

Gianni Infantino has publicly acknowledged his strategies to be closely connected with the former president before the upcoming World Cup, set to be hosted in multiple US locations across the America along with a couple in the northern neighbor and a few in Mexico. The head has appeared at multiple Oval Office events, had Trump deliver the club tournament trophy after the concluding game, and has even rescheduled his own organization’s congress to accompany Trump on a journey to the Gulf states earlier in 2025.

Past Statements

This has not stopped, Trump from suggesting the removal of World Cup matches from additional American venues. In late September, Seattle and San Francisco were similar statements, with Trump asserting both cities were “run by radical left lunatics who lack understanding what they’re doing,” while criticizing the safety level of both locales and claiming that events could be shifted.

Official Rebuttal

Victor Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s statements when he commented subsequently at a event in England.

“It is the organization's event, FIFA’s jurisdiction, the organization determines these matters,” he stated. “Respectfully to national heads, football is more important than political figures and the game will endure their tenure and their government. It's the essence of our game, that it is bigger than one leader and more important than individual states.”

LA Games Warning

Similarly, Trump’s response to a question about Boston veered into a similar threat regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“When I believed LA was not adequately ready, I will shift it to another location as needed,” Trump stated. “Regarding that event I might have to obtain a alternative permission, but we will proceed.”

Official consent Trump mentioned would have to come via the Olympic governing body. Their president, the newly elected president, was elected to her post in this year and has so far not meet publicly with Trump, but she said that she hopes for a sit-down with him at some point.

Further Comments

He also condemned California governor Newsom’s handling of this year’s California fires, stating that a parallel incident could cause the removal of the event.

“In case he doesn’t play ball, we’re gonna have to be firm,” he commented.

His statement was equally clear for the Massachusetts city.

“They better clean up their act,” he remarked. “It's I will say.”