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Ex-president Trump has once again declared he would influence FIFA to relocate upcoming World Cup matches from a designated city based on municipal politics, with Massachusetts emerging as the third such city to face such warnings from the American leader. Furthermore, Trump indicated he would contemplate similar action against Southern California for the upcoming Olympic Games due to possible safety issues.

Legal Authority and Possible Pressure

Although Trump holds no official jurisdiction to unilaterally remove either tournament, he is able to lobby the respective governing bodies overseeing each event to shift venues.

Setting for Statements

These remarks were made during a news conference with Javier Milei, who was at the White House following the announcement of a massive financial assistance for the South American nation. Toward the close of the event, a reporter asked Trump about a current public disturbance in the city where law enforcement were targeted and a police vehicle was burned. The journalist also asked if these incidents could result in the loss of tournament responsibilities for the expanded World Cup.

“I would take them away,” the former president remarked about the FIFA World Cup matches, scheduled to be staged at Gillette Stadium. “She is poor … she’s extremist, and activists are occupying sections of the city. It's a significant claim, right?”

Urban Disturbances and Political Context

Street takeovers, a digitally organized phenomenon where large crowds assemble on city streets after dark to perform stunts, have been a ongoing problem in American cities since the Covid-19 pandemic shutdowns. Latest similar events have become aggressive in the region, specifically in Boston. However, these occurrences are generally not regarded as associated with any specific ideological group.

“In cases where a mayor is performing poorly, and I feel exist security risks, I'd call the FIFA head, who is outstanding, and suggest let’s move it to a different city,” he commented publicly. “He will do that. He might not prefer the action, but he’d do it. Readily, he’d do it.”

Political Connections

The organization's head has made no secret his efforts to be publicly aligned with Trump before next year’s tournament, scheduled to be organized in multiple US locations across the America along with two in Canada and three in the southern neighbor. The organization's leader has appeared at several White House events, arranged for Trump deliver the Club World Cup trophy after the championship match, and has even delayed his own organization’s congress to travel with Trump on a visit to the Middle East previously.

Previous Threats

Despite this, Trump from suggesting the cancellation of soccer games from other US host cities. Recently, the Washington city and the Bay Area metropolis came under similar criticism, with Trump stating both cities were “led by far-left extremists who lack understanding what they're managing,” while challenging the security conditions of both cities and implying that matches could be shifted.

Organizational Statement

FIFA vice-president Montagliani rejected Trump’s claims when he responded days later at a event in the UK capital.

“It is FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction, the organization determines those decisions,” he stated. “With all due respect to national heads, soccer is more important than political figures and football will endure their administration and their policies. It's the essence of this sport, that it is transcends any individual and bigger than a nation.”

2028 Comments

On Tuesday, Trump’s response to a question about the Massachusetts city veered into a similar threat regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“In case I believed Los Angeles was not sufficiently organized, I'd shift it to a different city if I had to,” Trump stated. “For the Olympics I may have to obtain a alternative permission, but we'd proceed.”

Official consent Trump mentioned would need to come through the IOC. The head, Kirsty Coventry, was elected to her post in spring and has so far not appear together with the former president, but she stated that she hopes for a sit-down with Trump at a future time.

Further Comments

Trump also condemned Gavin Newsom’s response of recent LA wildfires, saying that a similar situation could result in the cancellation of the Games.

“If he refuses to cooperate, we will have to be firm,” he said.

The warning was equally direct for the Massachusetts city.

“The city must clean up their act,” he remarked. “That’s all I can say.”