BOSTON — A political standoff erupted Tuesday after former President Donald Trump threatened to remove 2026 FIFA World Cup matches from the Boston area unless city leaders “clean up their act,” sparking swift rebuttals from local officials.
Trump issues ultimatum
Speaking alongside Argentina’s President Javier Milei, Trump criticised Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and tied his threat to recent public safety incidents, including a street takeover in South Boston. He asserted that if he determined conditions were unsafe, he could call FIFA President Gianni Infantino and have the matches relocated. “We could take them away … all she has to do is call us,” Trump said.
He also labeled Wu “intelligent, but … radical left” and accused parts of Boston of being “taken over.”
Wu fires back: it’s not that simple
Mayor Wu, appearing on a local podcast, dismissed the threat as largely symbolic. “Much of it is locked down by contract so that no single person even if they live in the White House currently can undo it,” she said. “We’re going to continue to be who we are.”
She argued that any decision would require renegotiating contracts and overcoming major legal and logistical hurdles so close to the tournament. “There’s no real threat when it comes to saying cities are so unsafe that they can’t host the games,” Wu added.
Who really holds the power?
While Trump’s remarks drew headlines, experts and FIFA officials note that the tournament and its host venues are under FIFA’s control, not the U.S. president. FIFA has also clarified that safety and security requirements fall under the purview of national and local governments.
Moving matches at this stage would likely spark legal battles and logistical chaos.
