The President of the United States warned that he might relocate the venues of the 2026 World Cup amid political and social tensions
Meanwhile, the American president did not limit himself to Boston, also targeting Seattle and San Francisco, other World Cup host cities. "They are run by radical left lunatics who do not know what they are doing," he stated, reinforcing his rhetoric against local Democratic governments.
Donald Trump became directly involved again in the organization of the 2026 World Cup, this time with a threat that sparked controversy: the president stated that he could strip Boston of its host status if the incidents and protests against him do not stop.
"We could take the World Cup matches away from Boston," Trump declared during a public event also attended by Javier Milei, president of Argentina. "Its mayor (Michelle Wu) is not good. She is radical left, and they are taking over parts of Boston," he added, in a speech in which he once again targeted his political opponents.
The American president warned that he is willing to intervene directly with FIFA. "If someone is doing a bad job, and I feel there are unsafe conditions, I would call Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, who is phenomenal, and we would tell him to move the host city elsewhere. He would not like to do it, but he would," he said before an applauding audience.
Trump's stance, as he seeks to consolidate his political agenda at high-profile global events like the World Cup, takes place in a context of growing tension over his immigration policy. FIFA, meanwhile, told Politico that the responsibility for security standards lies with the host government, although it avoided commenting on the president's direct threats.
The American president even mentioned Los Angeles, the next host of the 2028 Olympic Games, warning that he would not hesitate to intervene if he believes security is not guaranteed: "If I thought Los Angeles would not be properly prepared, I would move it elsewhere if I had to."
In LA, social organizations and local officials are considering declaring a state of emergency due to the increase in raids against immigrants in neighborhoods with large Latino and Asian populations, measures carried out under the president's orders.
For now, officials in the mentioned cities stated they are not concerned about the threats, although Trump's words introduce a new element of political and diplomatic uncertainty ahead of the largest World Cup in history, which will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
