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Donald Trump has repeatedly announced he would pressure FIFA to pull global soccer tournament games from a designated city based on that city's governance, with Massachusetts emerging as the latest urban area to receive such threats from the American leader. Moreover, Trump suggested he would contemplate comparable measures against Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympics due to perceived security concerns.

Legal Authority and Possible Pressure

While Trump does not have direct legal authority to personally cancel either competition, he is able to apply pressure the international organizations managing each event to shift locations.

Setting for Statements

His remarks were made during a press event with Argentinian president Milei, who was visiting the White House following the announcement of a $20 billion rescue package for the South American nation. Toward the close of the gathering, a journalist asked Trump about a current “street takeover” in downtown Boston where police officers were targeted and a police vehicle was ignited. The journalist also asked if such events could result in the loss of organizing rights for the 48-team football competition.

“It's possible to take them away,” he stated about the World Cup fixtures, planned to be hosted at Gillette Stadium. “The city's leader is ineffective … she’s radical left, and activists are occupying areas of Boston. It's a significant assertion, don't you think?”

Street Takeovers and Political Context

Public disruptions, a online-fueled phenomenon where participants gather on city streets during nighttime to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have become a ongoing issue in US urban areas since the Covid-19 pandemic closures. Current similar events have turned violent in Massachusetts, including downtown. Nevertheless, these occurrences are usually not seen as associated with any specific political ideology.

“In cases where someone is doing a bad job, and I perceive there’s dangerous circumstances, I would call the organization's president, who is outstanding, and say we should relocate it to another location,” he said publicly. “He will do that. He might not prefer to do it, but he would comply. Very easily, he’d do it.”

Organizational Alignment

FIFA President has made no secret his strategies to be visibly associated with the US leader before the upcoming World Cup, planned to be staged in 11 cities across the US along with a couple in Canada and multiple in Mexico. The head has appeared at various presidential events, had Trump hand over the club tournament cup after the concluding game, and has even delayed his FIFA's internal meeting to accompany Trump on a trip to the Gulf states previously.

Past Statements

Despite this, Trump from warning about the relocation of FIFA World Cup games from different locations. Recently, Seattle and the Bay Area metropolis came under similar statements, with Trump asserting both locations were “governed by far-left extremists who are clueless what they’re doing,” while criticizing the safety level of both locales and claiming that matches could be relocated.

Organizational Statement

Victor Montagliani dismissed Trump’s claims when he commented days later at a event in London.

“It’s the organization's event, FIFA’s jurisdiction, FIFA makes those decisions,” he stated. “With all due respect to sitting presidents, soccer is transcends political figures and soccer will survive their regime and their leadership. That’s the essence of our game, that it is transcends any individual and beyond individual states.”

LA Games Warning

Similarly, Trump’s response to a query about the Massachusetts city veered into a parallel statement regarding the LA Olympic event.

“In case I believed LA was failing to be prepared properly, I will relocate it to an alternate venue as needed,” he remarked. “Regarding that event I might have to obtain a alternative consent, but we will proceed.”

Official consent Trump mentioned would have to come via the IOC. The leader, Kirsty Coventry, was elected to her position in March and has so far not hold a public appearance with the former president, though she indicated that she desires a sit-down with him at eventually.

Further Comments

The former president also criticized the state's leader Newsom’s response of recent blazes, stating that a comparable scenario could result in the relocation of the Games.

“When Newsom doesn’t play ball, we will have to be very tough,” he stated.

His statement was just as direct for Boston.

“The city should address these issues,” he remarked. “That is I can say.”