It’s not every day that the world’s biggest sporting event finds itself at the heart of a political storm, but that’s exactly the situation unfolding in Boston as the city prepares to host seven matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. On October 14, 2025, President Donald Trump ignited controversy by threatening to pressure FIFA into relocating the games from Boston unless Mayor Michelle Wu takes decisive action to address what he described as unsafe conditions and escalating crime.
The timing of Trump’s remarks couldn’t have been more pointed. Just days earlier, Boston was rocked by a violent street takeover involving over 100 people, an incident that saw police cruisers attacked with fireworks, cones, and poles. One cruiser was even set ablaze and had to be towed away. According to the Boston Police Department, the event unfolded in the early hours of October 5, 2025, and represented a dramatic escalation in a trend of late-night gatherings that have troubled American cities since the COVID-19 pandemic. Officers described the crowd as “hell-bent” on targeting law enforcement, with the president of the local police union expressing deep concern about the safety of both officers and the public.
Against this backdrop, Trump, speaking during a media session with Argentinian President Javier Milei at the White House, did not mince words. “We can take them away. I love the people of Boston. And I know the games are sold out, but the mayor is not good. There are worse than her. At least she’s intelligent. You know, some are extremely low IQ. Those bother me more. She’s intelligent, but she’s radical left,” Trump declared, as reported by Fox News. He went on to say, “The answer is yes, if somebody’s doing a bad job, and if I feel there’s unsafe conditions, I would call Gianni, the head of FIFA, who’s phenomenal, and I would say, ‘Let’s move it to another location,’ and he would do that. He wouldn’t love to do it, but he’d do it, very easily he’d do it. And this is the right time to do it.”
The president’s comments were not limited to the World Cup. He also raised the specter of moving the 2028 Olympics from Los Angeles if similar concerns about safety and preparedness arose. “If I thought LA was not going to be prepared properly, I’d move it to another location,” Trump said, suggesting he’d seek the necessary permissions from the International Olympic Committee if needed.
Trump’s remarks have drawn sharp criticism from Mayor Michelle Wu, who has accused the administration of stoking fear and causing harm in local communities. “At a time when this federal administration is already causing so much fear and harm in our communities, these threats are serious and consequential,” Wu stated in August, responding to earlier warnings from the Trump administration about potential federal lawsuits or funding cuts tied to immigration enforcement. Wu has remained steadfast in her defense of the city, but the tension between local and federal leadership is palpable as the World Cup approaches.
Adding to the complexity is the question of who actually holds the power to move World Cup matches. While Trump has insisted that he could call FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a venue change, FIFA officials have made it clear that such decisions rest solely with the international soccer body. “It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction, FIFA makes those decisions,” FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani told reporters at a sports business conference in London. “With all due respect to current world leaders, football is bigger than them and football will survive their regime and their government and their slogans. That’s the beauty of our game, that it is bigger than any individual and bigger than any country.”
Nonetheless, Trump’s close relationship with Infantino has been widely reported. The FIFA president has appeared at several Oval Office events and has made public gestures of support for the U.S. president, including presenting him with the FIFA Club World Cup and World Cup trophies. Still, the logistical and legal hurdles involved in moving matches just eight months before the tournament’s June 11, 2026 kickoff would be immense. Boston is not alone in facing Trump’s scrutiny—Seattle, San Francisco, and even Los Angeles have all been threatened with removal from major sporting events over similar concerns.
The upcoming World Cup is set to be the largest in history, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches across 11 U.S. cities, plus three cities in Mexico and two in Canada. Boston’s Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, about 22 miles southwest of the city, is scheduled to host seven of those games. The city’s selection was seen as a major coup, promising an economic boost and a chance to showcase Boston on the global stage. Now, that opportunity hangs in the balance—at least rhetorically—as political wrangling overshadows the countdown to kickoff.
Street takeovers, like the one that triggered Trump’s comments, have become a recurring issue in Boston and other U.S. cities. These late-night gatherings, often organized via social media, see large crowds converge to watch cars perform dangerous stunts. While sometimes dismissed as a nuisance, recent incidents have turned violent, raising legitimate concerns about public safety. However, experts note that these events are not typically linked to political movements or ideologies, making Trump’s framing of the issue as a political failure somewhat controversial.
Earlier this month, another incident on Boston Common saw a pro-Palestinian protest turn violent, resulting in multiple arrests and four injured police officers. Trump cited such unrest as justification for his threats to relocate major sporting events, claiming, “they are taking over parts of Boston” and warning that “Boston better clean up their act.”
Despite the heated rhetoric, the reality is that the power to move World Cup matches lies firmly with FIFA. The organization has contractual agreements with host cities and would face significant logistical challenges—and likely legal battles—if it attempted to make last-minute changes. Still, Trump’s comments have put a spotlight on the intersection of sports, politics, and public safety, raising questions about how cities prepare for and respond to high-profile international events.
As the world watches, Boston’s leaders face mounting pressure to ensure the city is ready for its moment on the global stage. Whether Trump’s threats are mere political theater or a sign of deeper tensions remains to be seen. For now, the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues, with Boston’s role in the tournament under an unexpected and very public microscope.
