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Former President Trump has repeatedly announced he would influence FIFA to remove global soccer tournament matches from a designated city based on the local politics, with the Boston region emerging as the third urban area to encounter such statements from the US president. Moreover, Trump remarked he would evaluate parallel steps against LA for the 2028 Summer Games due to perceived safety issues.

Official Power and Informal Leverage

Even though Trump lacks direct legal authority to personally cancel either tournament, he is able to exert influence the respective governing bodies managing each tournament to change locations.

Setting for Statements

These statements were made during a press event with Argentina's leader Milei, who was present in the White House following the announcement of a $20 billion bailout for the Argentine country. At the conclusion of the event, a media member asked Trump about a recent “street takeover” in downtown Boston where police officers were attacked and a police vehicle was ignited. The reporter also questioned if these incidents could cause the loss of hosting duties for the expanded soccer tournament.

“We could take them away,” the former president remarked regarding the World Cup fixtures, planned to be hosted at the Foxborough venue. “The city's leader is poor … they're radical left, and they are occupying sections of the city. It's a pretty big statement, isn't it?”

Public Gatherings and Public Safety Concerns

Public disruptions, a online-fueled trend where groups of people gather on urban roads after dark to perform stunts, have been a ongoing issue in US urban areas since the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. Latest incidents have escalated into violence in Massachusetts, notably in the city. Yet, these occurrences are usually not regarded as tied to any specific partisan agenda.

“If someone is performing poorly, and I perceive there are security risks, I would call the organization's president, who is outstanding, and suggest we should relocate it to a different city,” the former president commented during the event. “He will do that. He may not enjoy to do it, but he'd agree. Readily, he would.”

Political Connections

The organization's head has been open his efforts to be closely connected with the US leader prior to next year’s tournament, planned to be hosted in 11 cities across the America along with a couple in Canada and a few in Mexico. The FIFA president has participated at multiple presidential events, facilitated Trump deliver the Club World Cup award after the concluding game, and has even rescheduled his FIFA's internal meeting to accompany Trump on a journey to the Arab region previously.

Previous Threats

Despite this, Trump from threatening the cancellation of soccer events from other US host cities. In late September, the Washington city and San Francisco came under parallel comments, with Trump stating both cities were “run by far-left extremists who lack understanding what they're managing,” while criticizing the security conditions of both areas and implying that games could be removed.

FIFA Response

The organization's deputy Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s statements when he responded days later at a conference in England.

“It’s the organization's event, under our authority, FIFA makes such choices,” the vice-president said. “With all due respect to current world leaders, football is transcends any individual and football will survive their administration and their policies. It's the essence of our game, that it is bigger than one leader and more important than a nation.”

2028 Comments

On Tuesday, Trump’s answer to a question about Boston extended to a parallel statement regarding the LA Olympic event.

“When I perceived Los Angeles was not prepared properly, I would relocate it to another location as needed,” he remarked. “Regarding that event I may have to secure a different kind of consent, but we would take that action.”

Any approval Trump refers to would must come through the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Their leader, Kirsty Coventry, was elected to her post in spring and has so far not hold a public appearance with Trump, although she indicated that she desires a sit-down with him at some point.

Other Remarks

The former president also condemned the state's leader Newsom’s management of recent LA wildfires, stating that a similar situation could result in the cancellation of the Games.

“When Newsom is uncooperative, we’re gonna have to be very tough,” Trump commented.

His statement was just as direct for the Massachusetts city.

“They must clean up their act,” he said. “That is I will say.”