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Donald Trump has repeatedly announced he would urge FIFA to remove 2026 World Cup games from a host city based on municipal political climate, with Massachusetts emerging as the latest urban area to encounter such warnings from the US president. Furthermore, Trump indicated he would contemplate comparable measures against LA for the 2028 Olympics due to possible security concerns.

Official Power and Informal Leverage

Although Trump holds no direct legal authority to personally cancel either event, he may exert influence the respective governing bodies managing each event to move locations.

Background of Comments

The comments were made during a media briefing with Javier Milei, who was at the presidential residence following the revelation of a $20 billion financial assistance for the Latin American economy. Toward the conclusion of the meeting, a media member asked Trump about a latest unauthorized gathering in the city where authorities were attacked and a cruiser was burned. The reporter also asked if these incidents could lead to the removal of tournament responsibilities for the expanded football competition.

“I would take them away,” he stated regarding the soccer fixtures, scheduled to be hosted at the Foxborough venue. “She is poor … they're extremist, and they are dominating sections of downtown. That’s a pretty big assertion, don't you think?”

Public Gatherings and Political Context

Street takeovers, a digitally organized phenomenon where large crowds assemble on city streets during nighttime to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have been a repeated problem in metropolitan centers since the coronavirus closures. Current such gatherings have escalated into violence in the state, notably in downtown. Yet, these events are typically not seen as associated with any distinct political ideology.

“If a city is performing poorly, and I feel there are unsafe conditions, I will call Gianni [Infantino], who is outstanding, and say we should relocate it to another location,” he commented publicly. “He'd do that. He may not enjoy the action, but he would comply. Without hesitation, he’d do it.”

Political Connections

FIFA President has publicly acknowledged his efforts to be publicly aligned with the US leader ahead of next year’s tournament, planned to be hosted in 11 cities across the US along with a couple in the northern neighbor and three in the southern neighbor. The organization's leader has been present at several White House events, arranged for Trump deliver the FIFA club award after the championship match, and has even rescheduled his the group's assembly to travel with Trump on a visit to the Arab region this year.

Previous Threats

This has not stopped, Trump from threatening the removal of World Cup matches from other US host cities. In late September, the Washington city and San Francisco faced comparable statements, with Trump claiming both locations were “run by far-left extremists who are clueless what they’re doing,” while challenging the security conditions of both areas and implying that games could be shifted.

Official Rebuttal

Victor Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s claims when he responded subsequently at a conference in the UK capital.

“This is our competition, under our authority, we decide these matters,” the vice-president stated. “With all due respect to sitting presidents, football is transcends them and football will endure their regime and their government. It's the essence of our game, that it is bigger than a single person and beyond a nation.”

2028 Comments

On Tuesday, Trump’s answer to a inquiry about Boston extended to a similar threat regarding the upcoming Summer Games.

“In case I perceived the city was failing to be prepared properly, I will relocate it to another location if I had to,” he said. “For the Olympics I’d probably have to secure a different kind of approval, but we will proceed.”

The permission Trump refers to would need to come via the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The president, the newly elected president, was chosen to her position in spring and has not yet appear together with Trump, although she indicated that she desires a discussion with Trump at some point.

Further Comments

Trump also questioned the state's leader Newsom’s handling of the California fires, saying that a parallel incident could result in the cancellation of the Games.

“In case he refuses to cooperate, we will have to be strict,” Trump said.

His statement was similarly clear for Boston.

“They better improve their situation,” he remarked. “It's I will say.”