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Ex-president Trump has once again stated he would pressure FIFA to remove upcoming World Cup matches from a designated city based on the local governance, with Massachusetts now being the most recent such city to receive such statements from the American leader. Moreover, Trump indicated he would consider similar action against Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Games due to possible public safety risks.

Jurisdictional Limits and Informal Leverage

While Trump lacks direct legal authority to personally cancel either tournament, he can lobby the organizing committees managing each tournament to move host cities.

Context of Remarks

His remarks were made during a news conference with Argentina's leader Milei, who was at the executive mansion following the announcement of a $20 billion rescue package for the Latin American economy. Near the close of the gathering, a reporter inquired Trump about a current public disturbance in Boston where authorities were assaulted and a police vehicle was burned. The journalist also questioned if these incidents could cause the revocation of hosting duties for the expanded World Cup.

“It's possible to take them away,” he remarked regarding the soccer fixtures, planned to be held at Gillette Stadium. “She is not good … she’s radical left, and they’re taking over parts of the city. That is a significant claim, don't you think?”

Public Gatherings and Public Safety Concerns

Street takeovers, a social media-driven occurrence where participants gather on public avenues during nighttime to perform stunts, have been a frequent problem in American cities since the Covid-19 pandemic closures. Latest incidents have become aggressive in the state, including downtown. Yet, these occurrences are usually not considered associated with any specific partisan agenda.

“In cases where a city is doing a bad job, and I perceive exist security risks, I will call the FIFA head, who is phenomenal, and say we should relocate it to an alternate venue,” he commented on Tuesday. “He will do that. He might not prefer to do it, but he'd agree. Very easily, he'd comply.”

Political Connections

The organization's head has publicly acknowledged his strategies to be closely connected with Trump ahead of next year’s tournament, scheduled to be hosted in 11 cities across the US along with two in the northern neighbor and multiple in Mexico. The FIFA president has participated at multiple White House gatherings, facilitated Trump hand over the FIFA club cup after the championship match, and has even delayed his own organization’s congress to join Trump on a visit to the Middle East previously.

Earlier Warnings

This has not stopped, Trump from warning about the removal of soccer matches from different locations. In late September, Seattle and the Bay Area metropolis came under similar statements, with Trump asserting both urban centers were “run by radical left lunatics who are clueless what they are doing,” while criticizing the public safety of both cities and suggesting that matches could be removed.

Official Rebuttal

Victor Montagliani rejected Trump’s assertions when he commented days later at a event in the UK capital.

“It is the organization's event, FIFA’s jurisdiction, the organization determines such choices,” he declared. “Politely to current world leaders, football is transcends them and the game will outlast their tenure and their leadership. That’s the strength of our game, that it is more significant than one leader and more important than individual states.”

Olympics Threat

During the event, Trump’s answer to a inquiry about the Massachusetts city extended to a parallel statement regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“If I believed Los Angeles was not going to be sufficiently organized, I will shift it to another location if necessary,” he said. “For the Olympics I may have to obtain a alternative approval, but we would do that.”

The permission Trump mentioned would must come from the Olympic governing body. Their leader, she, was selected to her position in this year and has not yet hold a public appearance with the former president, though she stated that she hopes for a sit-down with him at a future time.

Other Remarks

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

“If he doesn’t play ball, we’re gonna have to be very tough,” he stated.

The warning was equally clear for the Massachusetts city.

“The city must clean up their act,” he remarked. “That’s all my message.”