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Former President Trump has once again stated he would pressure FIFA to relocate upcoming World Cup matches from a designated city based on municipal governance, with Boston emerging as the third urban area to encounter such statements from the White House. Additionally, Trump remarked he would consider parallel steps against Los Angeles for the upcoming Olympic Games due to potential public safety risks.

Jurisdictional Limits and Potential Influence

While Trump does not have formal power to unilaterally remove either event, he is able to apply pressure the international organizations managing each tournament to change locations.

Setting for Statements

These statements were made during a press event with Javier Milei, who was present in the White House following the announcement of a multibillion-dollar financial assistance for the Argentine economy. At the close of the meeting, a journalist asked Trump about a recent “street takeover” in Boston where law enforcement were attacked and a patrol car was ignited. The reporter also wondered if such events could result in the removal of tournament responsibilities for the larger World Cup.

“We could take them away,” Trump stated about the FIFA World Cup fixtures, set to be hosted at the Massachusetts arena. “She is poor … she is far-left, and they’re dominating parts of Boston. That’s a major claim, right?”

Street Takeovers and Political Context

Street takeovers, a digitally organized occurrence where large crowds gather on public avenues late at night to perform stunts, have emerged as a ongoing issue in American cities since the Covid-19 pandemic shutdowns. Latest incidents have turned violent in the state, specifically in Boston. However, these gatherings are usually not considered associated with any distinct political ideology.

“If a city is doing a bad job, and I perceive exist unsafe conditions, I would call Gianni [Infantino], who is outstanding, and suggest it should be shifted to another location,” Trump said during the event. “He will do that. He might not prefer to do it, but he’d do it. Very easily, he would.”

Organizational Alignment

Gianni Infantino has been open his efforts to be publicly aligned with the US leader ahead of the upcoming World Cup, set to be staged in 11 cities across the America along with several in the northern neighbor and multiple in Mexico. The FIFA president has participated at various Oval Office functions, arranged for Trump present the FIFA club cup after the championship match, and has even rescheduled his own organization’s congress to accompany Trump on a journey to the Middle East previously.

Past Statements

This has not stopped, Trump from threatening the relocation of World Cup matches from different locations. Recently, the Washington city and the Bay Area metropolis faced comparable statements, with Trump stating both cities were “governed by radical left lunatics who are clueless what they're managing,” while questioning the security conditions of both locales and suggesting that games could be relocated.

FIFA Response

FIFA vice-president Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s statements when he responded afterward at a conference in England.

“This is FIFA’s tournament, our responsibility, FIFA makes such choices,” he declared. “Respectfully to sitting presidents, soccer is bigger than them and football will outlast their regime and their leadership. That is the beauty of this sport, that it is transcends a single person and bigger than a nation.”

Olympics Threat

Similarly, Trump’s reply to a question about the Massachusetts city veered into a similar threat regarding the upcoming Summer Games.

“In case I believed Los Angeles was not going to be sufficiently organized, I would relocate it to an alternate venue as needed,” he said. “Regarding that event I’d probably have to obtain a alternative permission, but we'd proceed.”

Any approval Trump refers to would have to come from the Olympic governing body. Their president, she, was elected to her position in spring and has so far not appear together with Trump, but she indicated that she hopes for a discussion with the US figure at a future time.

Other Remarks

The former president also condemned California governor Newsom’s management of recent blazes, remarking that a comparable scenario could cause the cancellation of the event.

“When he is uncooperative, we’re gonna have to be strict,” he said.

The warning was just as clear for the Massachusetts city.

“The city should clean up their act,” Trump stated. “That’s all my message.”