President Donald Trump has threatened to move World Cup matches scheduled for Boston, citing recent unrest in the city.
While expressing his love for Boston, he voiced concerns over the city’s leadership under Mayor Michelle Wu. Wu’s office responded, affirming Boston’s excitement to host the matches and welcoming fans worldwide. Trump’s remarks raise questions about the logistical feasibility of changing host locations so close to the tournament.
He suggested that “they’re taking over parts of Boston,” without providing specifics, but added, “we could get them back in about two seconds.”
Wu’s office responded with a statement that read: “Boston is honoured and excited to host World Cup matches, and we look forward to welcoming fans from around the world to our beautiful city, the cradle of liberty and city of champions.”
Trump’s comments came during a meeting with Argentina’s president, and it was unclear what specific unrest he was referring to. Earlier this month, multiple arrests were made during a pro-Palestinian protest that turned violent on Boston Common, resulting in injuries to four police officers.
Trump has previously suggested he could declare cities “not safe” for the 104-game football tournament and alter the detailed hosting plan that FIFA confirmed in 2022. This plan includes NFL stadiums near New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
World Cup host sites are not determined by Trump. The 11 U.S. cities—along with three in Mexico and two in Canada—are contracted with FIFA, which would encounter significant logistical and legal challenges if changes were to be made in the eight months leading up to the 11th June kickoff.
“It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction; FIFA makes those decisions,” said the soccer body’s vice president, Victor Montagliani, earlier this month at a sports business conference in London.
Nonetheless, Trump stated, “If somebody is doing a bad job, and if I feel there are unsafe conditions, I would call Gianni—who’s phenomenal—the head of FIFA, and I would say, ‘Let’s move to another location,’ and they would do that.”
He was referring to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, a close ally. Trump said Infantino “wouldn’t love to do it, but he’d do it very easily.”
