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Former President Trump has yet again declared he would influence FIFA to relocate 2026 World Cup games from a host city based on the local governance, with Massachusetts becoming the third such city to face such warnings from the American leader. Moreover, Trump remarked he would consider parallel steps against Southern California for the 2028 Olympics due to potential safety issues.

Legal Authority and Possible Pressure

Although Trump holds no formal power to personally cancel either tournament, he can lobby the organizing committees managing each event to change venues.

Setting for Statements

His remarks were made during a media briefing with Javier Milei, who was visiting the executive mansion following the announcement of a $20 billion rescue package for the Argentine economy. At the conclusion of the event, a reporter inquired Trump about a current unauthorized gathering in downtown Boston where police officers were targeted and a patrol car was set on fire. The reporter also questioned if the situation could lead to the removal of hosting duties for the expanded football competition.

“I would take them away,” he remarked concerning the FIFA World Cup fixtures, set to be staged at the Massachusetts arena. “The city's leader is not good … they're far-left, and activists are dominating areas of downtown. It's a significant statement, isn't it?”

Public Gatherings and Ideological Perceptions

Unauthorized gatherings, a online-fueled trend where large crowds congregate on city streets during nighttime to perform stunts, have emerged as a ongoing issue in metropolitan centers since the lockdown restrictions. Latest incidents have turned violent in the region, including the city. Yet, these events are usually not considered associated with any specific partisan agenda.

“When a city is doing a bad job, and I believe exist dangerous circumstances, I will call the FIFA head, who is phenomenal, and tell him it should be shifted to another location,” Trump stated during the event. “And he would do that. He wouldn’t love doing it, but he would comply. Very easily, he’d do it.”

Political Connections

The organization's head has publicly acknowledged his efforts to be closely connected with Trump prior to next year’s tournament, planned to be hosted in multiple US locations across the United States along with several in the northern neighbor and three in the southern neighbor. The head has participated at several White House gatherings, arranged for Trump present the FIFA club award after the concluding game, and has even delayed his own organization’s congress to travel with Trump on a trip to the Arab region this year.

Past Statements

Despite this, Trump from suggesting the cancellation of FIFA World Cup events from other US host cities. Recently, Seattle and the Bay Area metropolis were similar comments, with Trump stating both locations were “led by far-left extremists who lack understanding what they are doing,” while criticizing the security conditions of both areas and implying that games could be relocated.

Organizational Statement

FIFA vice-president Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s assertions when he reacted days later at a gathering in the UK capital.

“It is FIFA’s tournament, under our authority, the organization determines these matters,” he declared. “With all due respect to current world leaders, the sport is bigger than political figures and soccer will outlast their regime and their policies. That’s the strength of our game, that it is transcends any individual and beyond individual states.”

Olympics Threat

Similarly, Trump’s response to a inquiry about the Massachusetts city veered into a similar threat regarding the LA Olympic event.

“When I perceived LA was not sufficiently organized, I will move it to an alternate venue if I had to,” Trump stated. “Regarding that event I might have to get a different kind of consent, but we would proceed.”

Official consent Trump alluded to would need to come through the IOC. Their president, Kirsty Coventry, was elected to her post in this year and has so far not hold a public appearance with Trump, though she stated that she hopes for a meeting with him at some point.

Other Remarks

The former president also condemned Gavin Newsom’s response of this year’s LA wildfires, saying that a similar situation could cause the cancellation of the Games.

“In case the governor refuses to cooperate, we will have to be firm,” the former president stated.

His message was just as unambiguous for the Massachusetts city.

“The city better clean up their act,” Trump stated. “That is my message.”