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President Donald Trump’s threats to move games scheduled in the Boston area for FIFA 2026 world cup could become a reality after the international soccer organization said the US government has the final say when it comes to the security of host cities.
A FIFA spokesperson he told ESPN that governments have the final say when deciding “what is best for public safety.”
US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino talk in the Oval Office of the White House after signing an executive order for a working group related to the FIFA World Cup, in Washington, DC, March 7, 2025. (Jim WATSON/AFP)
“Safety and security are top priorities at all FIFA events around the world,” the spokesperson told the outlet. “Safety and security are obviously the responsibility of governments and they decide what is best for public safety.
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“We hope that each of our 16 host cities will be ready to host successfully and meet all necessary requirements.”
Pak Gazette Digital has contacted FIFA for comment.
The situation surrounding Boston’s position as one of the host cities for next year’s tournament began this week when Trump suggested he would move the games out of Boston while discussing an incident that occurred in the city this week when a group of people took to one of the city’s streets in a violent demonstration.
“We can take them off. I love the people of Boston. And I know the games are sold out, but the mayor is no good. There are worse than her. At least she’s smart. You know, some of them have extremely low IQs. Those bother me more. She’s smart, but she’s radical left,” Trump said of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
Mayor Wu speaks as the mayor and city leaders hold a press conference on violence and drug use in DTC on February 26, 2025. (Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
TRUMP REPEATS THREAT TO MOVE WORLD CUP GAMES AWAY FROM BOSTON AFTER MAYOR HAS CURRENT HOSTING RIGHTS
The president added that he could ask FIFA president Gianni Infantino to make the relocation a reality if he deemed it necessary.
“The answer is yes, if someone is doing a bad job and I feel there are unsafe conditions, I would call Gianni, the director of FIFA, who is phenomenal, and say, ‘Let’s move him to another location,’ and he would do it. He wouldn’t love to do it, but he would do it, he would very easily do it. And this is the right time to do it.”
Trump doubled down about his threat on Wednesday, adding that “we have the right to do that with FIFA” if the city doesn’t “fix things.”
“If we think there’s some reason, whether it’s in Boston or anywhere else, why they’re not doing their job, we’ll take those World Cup games and move them somewhere else.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, right, presents the FIFA World Cup Winners’ Trophy to President Donald Trump during an announcement in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, August 22, 2025, in Washington, DC. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
In a statement to Pak Gazette Digital, Wu said the city is “honored 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 freedom and the city of champions.”
Boston will currently host seven matches when the World Cup comes to North America next summer. The schedule includes five group stage matches, a round of 32 match and the first quarter-final match on July 9.
