Trump threatens to tug World Cup video games from Boston over unrest

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to relocate World Cup matches set to be performed subsequent 12 months in Boston, elements of which he’d urged had been “taken over” by current unrest.

Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, residence to the NFL’s New England Patriots and about 30 miles from Boston, is ready to stage seven matches because the U.S. cohosts the 2026 World Cup with Mexico and Canada. Trump was requested in regards to the metropolis’s mayor, Michelle Wu, a Democrat whom he known as “intelligent” however “radical left.”

“We could take them away,” Trump stated of the video games. “I love the people of Boston, and I know the games are sold out. But your mayor is not good.”

He urged “they’re taking over parts of Boston” with out providing particulars, however added “we could get them back in about two seconds.”

Wu’s workplace didn’t reply to a message in search of remark.

Trump’s feedback got here throughout his assembly with Argentina’s president, and it wasn’t instantly clear what he was referring to. Earlier this month, nonetheless, there have been a number of arrests in reference to a pro-Palestinian protest that turned violent on the Boston Common by which 4 law enforcement officials had been injured.

Trump has beforehand urged he may declare cities “not safe” for the 104-game soccer match and alter an in depth internet hosting plan that FIFA confirmed in 2022. It contains NFL stadiums close to New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

World Cup host websites aren’t as much as Trump. The 11 U.S. cities — plus three in Mexico and two in Canada — are contracted with FIFA, which might face important logistical and authorized points to make modifications within the eight months earlier than the June 11 kickoff.

“It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction; FIFA makes those decisions,” the soccer physique’s vice chairman Victor Montagliani stated earlier this month at a sports activities enterprise convention in London.

Nonetheless, Trump stated: “If somebody is doing a bad job, and if I feel there’s unsafe conditions, I would call Gianni — the head of FIFA who’s phenomenal — and I would say, ‘Let’s move into another location’ and they would do that.”

The president was referring to Gianni Infantino, FIFA head and an in depth ally. Trump stated Infantino “wouldn’t love to do it, but he’d do it very easily.”