Donald Trump has repeatedly announced he would influence FIFA to relocate global soccer tournament matches from a host city based on the local politics, with Massachusetts now being the third such city to encounter such threats from the US president. Furthermore, Trump indicated he would contemplate similar action against Los Angeles for the upcoming Olympic Games due to perceived public safety risks.
Even though Trump lacks formal power to personally cancel either competition, he may apply pressure the organizing committees overseeing each tournament to change venues.
The statements were made during a press event with Argentinian president Milei, who was at the presidential residence following the announcement of a $20 billion rescue package for the South American economy. At the end of the meeting, a journalist questioned Trump about a recent public disturbance in Boston where law enforcement were assaulted and a police vehicle was ignited. The correspondent also wondered if such events could cause the revocation of tournament responsibilities for the 48-team football competition.
“I would take them away,” the former president remarked regarding the FIFA World Cup games, set to be staged at Gillette Stadium. “She is poor … she’s extremist, and they’re taking over areas of Boston. It's a major assertion, right?”
Street takeovers, a digitally organized phenomenon where participants gather on public avenues after dark to perform stunts, have been a ongoing nuisance in American cities since the Covid-19 pandemic closures. Current such gatherings have become aggressive in the state, specifically in downtown. However, these occurrences are generally not considered tied to any distinct partisan agenda.
“In cases where someone is performing poorly, and I believe exist dangerous circumstances, I'd call the FIFA head, who is excellent, and tell him it should be shifted to an alternate venue,” the former president stated on Tuesday. “He'd do that. He wouldn’t love the action, but he would comply. Without hesitation, he’d do it.”
Gianni Infantino has made no secret his efforts to be publicly aligned with the former president prior to next year’s tournament, planned to be staged in multiple US locations across the America along with several in Canada and multiple in the southern neighbor. The organization's leader has appeared at various Oval Office functions, arranged for Trump deliver the Club World Cup trophy after that tournament’s final, and has even delayed his own organization’s congress to travel with Trump on a journey to the Middle East earlier in 2025.
This has not stopped, Trump from warning about the removal of FIFA World Cup events from additional American venues. In late September, the Washington city and San Francisco faced parallel criticism, with Trump claiming both urban centers were “run by far-left extremists who lack understanding what they’re doing,” while criticizing the security conditions of both cities and implying that matches could be shifted.
The organization's deputy Montagliani rejected Trump’s claims when he commented afterward at a gathering in London.
“This is the organization's event, FIFA’s jurisdiction, we decide such choices,” he stated. “Politely to current world leaders, football is transcends any individual and football will endure their tenure and their government. It's the essence of football, that it is bigger than a single person and more important than a nation.”
On Tuesday, Trump’s answer to a question about Boston extended to a similar threat regarding the LA Olympic event.
“In case I believed Los Angeles was not sufficiently organized, I will move it to an alternate venue if necessary,” Trump stated. “For the Olympics I might have to obtain a alternative permission, but we would take that action.”
Any approval Trump refers to would need to come from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The president, the newly elected president, was chosen to her position in this year and has yet to hold a public appearance with him, although she said that she desires a discussion with him at some point.
The former president also condemned Gavin Newsom’s response of the California fires, stating that a similar situation could lead to the relocation of the Games.
“In case the governor refuses to cooperate, we’re gonna have to be very tough,” he said.
The warning was just as direct for the Massachusetts city.
“The city should clean up their act,” he remarked. “That is I can say.”
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