Donald Trump Warns of Relocation of World Cup Matches from Massachusetts, Olympics from California

Former President Trump has yet again announced he would urge FIFA to remove upcoming World Cup games from a venue based on the local political climate, with Boston becoming the latest such city to receive such warnings from the American leader. Additionally, Trump remarked he would evaluate similar action against Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Games due to perceived safety issues.

Official Power and Possible Pressure

Although Trump lacks formal power to directly relocate either competition, he may lobby the respective governing bodies managing each event to move host cities.

Background of Comments

These comments were made during a press event with Argentinian president Milei, who was visiting the White House following the disclosure of a $20 billion bailout for the Latin American economy. Near the end of the gathering, a journalist asked Trump about a current unauthorized gathering in downtown Boston where police officers were attacked and a cruiser was burned. The journalist also wondered if the situation could lead to the loss of organizing rights for the expanded soccer tournament.

“We could take them away,” Trump remarked about the FIFA World Cup fixtures, set to be held at the Foxborough venue. “She is poor … she’s radical left, and activists are dominating parts of Boston. That’s a significant assertion, right?”

Public Gatherings and Political Context

Street takeovers, a social media-driven trend where large crowds congregate on public avenues during nighttime to perform stunts, have become a repeated nuisance in metropolitan centers since the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. Recent incidents have escalated into violence in the state, notably in Boston. Yet, these events are generally not regarded as associated with any particular partisan agenda.

“In cases where someone is doing a bad job, and I perceive there are dangerous circumstances, I would call the FIFA head, who is outstanding, and say it should be shifted to another location,” he commented on Tuesday. “He'd do that. He might not prefer doing it, but he’d do it. Very easily, he’d do it.”

Political Connections

Gianni Infantino has publicly acknowledged his efforts to be visibly associated with the former president ahead of next year’s tournament, planned to be organized in multiple US locations across the US along with two in Canada and a few in Mexico. The FIFA president has been present at various presidential events, facilitated Trump present the club tournament award after that tournament’s final, and has even delayed his FIFA's internal meeting to join Trump on a trip to the Gulf states earlier in 2025.

Past Statements

Despite this, Trump from warning about the removal of soccer events from other US host cities. Recently, Seattle and San Francisco were comparable comments, with Trump claiming both urban centers were “led by far-left extremists who lack understanding what they’re doing,” while criticizing the safety level of both locales and implying that matches could be relocated.

Official Rebuttal

Victor Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s assertions when he responded afterward at a event in the UK capital.

“It’s FIFA’s tournament, our responsibility, FIFA makes these matters,” he declared. “Politely to national heads, soccer is transcends political figures and football will outlast their administration and their government. That is the beauty of football, that it is bigger than a single person and bigger than individual states.”

Olympics Threat

On Tuesday, Trump’s response to a inquiry about the Massachusetts city included a similar threat regarding the LA Olympic event.

“If I believed the city was failing to be prepared properly, I would relocate it to an alternate venue if I had to,” Trump stated. “On that one I’d probably have to get a varying approval, but we will proceed.”

Official consent Trump alluded to would must come from the IOC. The head, Kirsty Coventry, was elected to her role in March and has not yet meet publicly with him, but she indicated that she would like a sit-down with the US figure at some point.

Additional Criticism

Trump also criticized the state's leader Newsom’s management of recent LA wildfires, stating that a parallel incident could cause the relocation of the Olympics.

“When Newsom is uncooperative, we will have to be strict,” the former president commented.

The warning was just as clear for the Massachusetts city.

“They should address these issues,” he remarked. “That is I will say.”