WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump threatened on Tuesday to move the World Cup matches due to be played in the Boston suburbs next year after suggestions that parts of the city had been “taken over” by unrest.
Foxborough, Massachusetts, home of the NFL’s New England Patriots and about 30 miles from Boston, will host games as the U.S. joins Mexico and Canada to host the 2026 World Cup. Trump was asked about Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, a Democrat he called “intelligent” but “radical left.”
“We could take them away,” Trump said of the World Cup matches. “I love the people of Boston and I know the games are sold out. But your mayor is no good.” He suggested “they take over parts of Boston” without providing details, but added “we can get them back in about two seconds.”
The Trump administration has already deployed National Guard troops Washington And Memphisand attempts to do so in Chicago and Portland, Oregon led to this development legal battles.
Wu’s office did not immediately respond to Trump’s threat, issuing a statement saying: “Boston 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.”
Trump’s comments came during his meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei and it was not immediately clear what he was referring to about the seized parts of Boston.
However, earlier this month there were several arrests in connection with a pro-Palestinian protest that turned violent on Boston Common. Four police officers were injured.
Trump has previously suggested he could declare cities “not safe” for the 104-match soccer tournament and change a detailed hosting plan that FIFA confirmed in 2022. It includes games at NFL stadiums near New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Host locations for the World Cup are not up to Trump.
The 11 U.S. cities — plus three in Mexico and two in Canada — have signed a contract with FIFA, which would face significant logistical and legal challenges if changes were made in the eight months before the June 11 kickoff.
“It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction, FIFA makes those decisions,” Football Association vice-president Victor Montagliani said. said earlier this month at a sports business conference in London.
Trump nevertheless said: “If someone is doing a bad job, and if I feel like there are unsafe conditions, I would call Gianni – the phenomenal head of FIFA – and say, ‘Let’s move to another location’ and they would do that.”
The president was referring to FIFA head Gianni Infantino, a close ally. Trump said Infantino “wouldn’t like to do it, but he would do it very easily.”
Associated Press writer Michael Casey in Boston contributed to this report.
