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Donald Trump has yet again announced he would influence FIFA to relocate 2026 World Cup events from a designated city based on that city's political climate, with Massachusetts becoming the latest targeted location to receive such warnings from the US president. Additionally, Trump indicated he would consider similar action against Southern California for the upcoming Olympic Games due to potential security concerns.

Jurisdictional Limits and Potential Influence

While Trump lacks official jurisdiction to unilaterally remove either competition, he is able to lobby the organizing committees overseeing each tournament to move host cities.

Setting for Statements

The remarks were made during a news conference with Argentinian president Milei, who was visiting the presidential residence following the revelation of a multibillion-dollar bailout for the Argentine economy. At the end of the event, a reporter asked Trump about a recent public disturbance in downtown Boston where police officers were attacked and a cruiser was set on fire. The reporter also questioned if the situation could lead to the loss of tournament responsibilities for the larger soccer tournament.

“We could take them away,” the former president stated about the soccer fixtures, set to be hosted at the Massachusetts arena. “She is not good … she is radical left, and they’re dominating parts of the city. That’s a pretty big assertion, isn't it?”

Public Gatherings and Political Context

Street takeovers, a social media-driven phenomenon where groups of people gather on city streets after dark to engage in dangerous driving, have become a frequent nuisance in US urban areas since the lockdown restrictions. Recent similar events have escalated into violence in Massachusetts, including the city. However, these events are usually not considered tied to any particular ideological group.

“When someone is doing a bad job, and I believe there’s unsafe conditions, I will call Gianni [Infantino], who is phenomenal, and say it should be shifted to an alternate venue,” he said publicly. “He'd do that. He might not prefer doing it, but he would comply. Without hesitation, he would.”

FIFA Relationship

FIFA President has been open his attempts to be visibly associated with the former president ahead of the upcoming World Cup, planned to be hosted in numerous American venues across the US along with two in the northern neighbor and multiple in the southern neighbor. The organization's leader has appeared at multiple White House functions, arranged for Trump deliver the Club World Cup award after the concluding game, and has even postponed his own organization’s congress to join Trump on a journey to the Arab region this year.

Previous Threats

Nevertheless, Trump from suggesting the cancellation of FIFA World Cup events from other US host cities. In late September, Seattle and the Bay Area metropolis were similar statements, with Trump claiming both urban centers were “governed by ideological activists who are clueless what they’re doing,” while challenging the security conditions of both areas and implying that games could be removed.

Official Rebuttal

The organization's deputy Montagliani dismissed Trump’s statements when he responded subsequently at a gathering in the UK capital.

“It’s our competition, under our authority, the organization determines these matters,” he said. “With all due respect to sitting presidents, the sport is bigger than them and soccer will endure their regime and their policies. It's the essence of this sport, that it is bigger than one leader and more important than any country.”

Olympics Threat

During the event, Trump’s response to a query about Boston included a comparable warning regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“When I thought LA was not prepared properly, I'd move it to another location as needed,” Trump stated. “For the Olympics I might have to secure a alternative permission, but we would take that action.”

Any approval Trump mentioned would must come from the Olympic governing body. Their president, she, was chosen to her position in this year and has not yet meet publicly with Trump, but she indicated that she would like a discussion with him at some point.

Additional Criticism

The former president also condemned California governor Newsom’s handling of the California fires, saying that a parallel incident could cause the cancellation of the Olympics.

“When the governor is uncooperative, we will have to be strict,” he commented.

His statement was equally clear for Boston.

“The city must clean up their act,” he said. “That is I can say.”