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Ex-president Trump has once again announced he would urge FIFA to pull global soccer tournament matches from a designated city based on that city's political climate, with the Boston region now being the latest targeted location to receive such statements from the American leader. Moreover, Trump indicated he would evaluate parallel steps against LA for the upcoming Olympic Games due to potential safety issues.

Legal Authority and Possible Pressure

While Trump does not have official jurisdiction to directly relocate either competition, he is able to apply pressure the international organizations managing each event to change venues.

Background of Comments

The statements were made during a press event with Javier Milei, who was at the executive mansion following the revelation of a $20 billion financial assistance for the Latin American economy. Toward the conclusion of the meeting, a journalist inquired Trump about a latest “street takeover” in the city where authorities were targeted and a patrol car was burned. The reporter also wondered if such events could cause the loss of organizing rights for the larger soccer tournament.

“I would take them away,” he stated about the FIFA World Cup matches, scheduled to be hosted at Gillette Stadium. “Their mayor is ineffective … she’s extremist, and they’re taking over sections of the city. That’s a pretty big statement, right?”

Street Takeovers and Political Context

Public disruptions, a social media-driven trend where large crowds congregate on urban roads late at night to perform stunts, have emerged as a ongoing problem in metropolitan centers since the lockdown closures. Current similar events have escalated into violence in Massachusetts, specifically in the city. However, these gatherings are generally not seen as tied to any particular partisan agenda.

“When a city is doing a bad job, and I perceive there are unsafe conditions, I'd call Gianni [Infantino], who is phenomenal, and tell him we should relocate it to an alternate venue,” he commented on Tuesday. “He will do that. He might not prefer the action, but he'd agree. Very easily, he would.”

FIFA Relationship

The organization's head has publicly acknowledged his efforts to be visibly associated with the US leader prior to the upcoming World Cup, planned to be staged in 11 cities across the United States along with a couple in the northern neighbor and a few in Mexico. The FIFA president has appeared at various presidential events, arranged for Trump hand over the Club World Cup award after that tournament’s final, and has even delayed his own organization’s congress to travel with Trump on a journey to the Middle East this year.

Earlier Warnings

Nevertheless, Trump from threatening the removal of FIFA World Cup matches from additional American venues. In late September, the Washington city and the Bay Area metropolis faced similar statements, with Trump claiming both urban centers were “run by ideological activists who lack understanding what they’re doing,” while questioning the safety level of both locales and claiming that matches could be relocated.

Official Rebuttal

Victor Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s claims when he reacted days later at a event in the UK capital.

“It’s our competition, under our authority, FIFA makes these matters,” the vice-president declared. “With all due respect to current world leaders, soccer is bigger than them and soccer will survive their administration and their government. That’s the beauty of football, that it is more significant than a single person and more important than individual states.”

LA Games Warning

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

“When I thought the city was not going to be sufficiently organized, I'd move it to another location if necessary,” he remarked. “For the Olympics I may have to get a varying permission, but we'd proceed.”

Any approval Trump alluded to would need to come from the Olympic governing body. The president, Kirsty Coventry, was chosen to her role in this year and has not yet appear together with him, but she indicated that she hopes for a sit-down with the US figure at eventually.

Additional Criticism

Trump also criticized Gavin Newsom’s handling of recent blazes, saying that a parallel incident could result in the cancellation of the Games.

“In case Newsom doesn’t play ball, we are going to have to be very tough,” Trump commented.

The warning was equally unambiguous for Boston.

“Boston must improve their situation,” he remarked. “That’s all I will say.”