Trump threatens to move 2026 World Cup matches from Boston due to recent unrest
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President Donald Trump has suggested he will pull the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches from Boston if the city’s mayor, Michelle Wu, does not curb crime that recently included a violent street takeover targeting police.
Trump made the suggestion while taking questions from the media during a meeting Tuesday with Argentine President Javier Miley at the White House, threatening to summon FIFA President Gianni Infantino to move the games to cities that cooperate, citing safety concerns.
“We can take them away,” Trump said. “I love the people of Boston. And I know the games are sold out, but the mayor is no good. There are worse ones out there. At least she’s smart. You know, some have very low IQs. And that bothers me more. She’s smart, but she’s far left.”
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“The answer is yes. If someone is doing a bad job, if I feel there are unsafe conditions, I will call Gianni, the president of FIFA, who is an exceptional person, and say: Let’s move him somewhere else, and he will do it. He didn’t want to do it, but he will do it, very easily. This is the time to do it.”
Trump’s comments come after a group of people took control of a city street in a violent incident that occurred this week. President of the union that represents Boston Police officers said people involved in the recent takeover of city streets were “heavily determined” to attack law enforcement officials.
According to the Boston Police Department, more than 100 people participated in the takeover that included street racing just after 2 a.m. on October 5. Officers found people trying to attack police cruisers with fireworks, cones, poles and other objects.
Officials said the fire destroyed a police vehicle and had to be towed away from the area.
Boston is currently scheduled to host seven matches when the World Cup is held in North America next summer. The list includes five group stage matches, one round of 32 match, and the first quarter-final match on July 9.
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Mayor Michelle Wu speaks during a press conference in Boston. (Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
Wu’s office responded to Trump’s threats in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“Boston is honored and excited to host the World Cup, and we look forward to welcoming fans from around the world to our beautiful city, the cradle of freedom and the city of champions,” the statement read.
Trump added that he would also consider pulling the 2028 Summer Olympics from Los Angeles for similar reasons.
“I can say the same for the Olympics,” he said. “If I think LA won’t be properly prepared, I’ll move it somewhere else.”
Wu accused the Trump administration of being a party that “does not follow the law.”
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President Donald Trump holds the World Cup in the Oval Office; Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. (Getty Images)
“While this federal administration is already causing so much fear and harm in our communities, these threats are serious and consequential,” Wu said in August.
The comments came after the Trump administration warned that it could sue or cut off federal funds if cities refuse to cooperate in immigration enforcement.
Fox News Digital’s Adam Sipes and FOX Business Network’s Edward Lawrence contributed to this report.
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