WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, President Donald Trump hinted at the possibility of relocating World Cup matches scheduled for next year in Boston, which he claimed has experienced significant unrest.
Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts – approximately 30 miles from Boston and the home of the NFL’s New England Patriots – is slated to host seven matches during the 2026 World Cup, cohosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. When discussing Boston’s mayor, Michelle Wu, a Democrat, Trump described her as “intelligent” yet “radical left.”
“We could take them away,” Trump stated regarding the matches. “I have great affection for the people of Boston, and I know the games are sold out. But your mayor is not doing a good job.”
He asserted that “they’re taking over parts of Boston,” though he did not provide specific details, remarking that “we could get them back in about two seconds.”
Wu’s office has not responded to requests for comment.
Trump made these remarks during a meeting with Argentina’s president, and it was unclear what specific incidents he was referencing. Earlier this month, however, a pro-Palestinian protest on the Boston Common resulted in multiple arrests and left four police officers injured.
The president has previously suggested that he might declare certain cities as “not safe” for the 104-match soccer tournament, potentially altering a hosting agreement confirmed by FIFA in 2022, which includes NFL venues in cities like New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
It’s important to note that decisions about World Cup host sites are not under Trump’s authority. The 11 U.S. cities selected, along with three in Mexico and two in Canada, are bound by contracts with FIFA, which would face considerable logistical and legal challenges to alter the plans with just eight months remaining until the June 11 kickoff.
“It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction; FIFA makes those decisions,” stated Victor Montagliani, vice president of FIFA, earlier this month at a sports business conference in London.
Despite this, Trump remarked, “If someone is not performing well, and I feel there are unsafe conditions, I would contact Gianni—who is excellent, the head of FIFA—and say, ‘Let’s move to another location,’ and they would certainly consider it.”
He was referring to Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s president and a close ally, adding that while Infantino “wouldn’t love to do it, he’d easily accommodate the request.”