President Donald Trump has threatened to relocate next year’s World Cup matches from the Boston area, claiming that parts of the city have been “taken over” by unrest. The comments, made Tuesday during a meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei, have drawn criticism and confusion, as Foxborough, Massachusetts—home to Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots—is scheduled to host several matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Trump’s Remarks and Context
Asked about Boston’s mayor, Michelle Wu, a Democrat, Trump described her as “intelligent” but “radical left” and suggested that she was not managing the city effectively. “We could take them away,” he said of the World Cup games. “I love the people of Boston and I know the games are sold out. But your mayor is not good.”
Trump further claimed that “they’re taking over parts of Boston,” without elaborating on who “they” referred to. The remarks appeared to reference recent protests on Boston Common, where several arrests occurred and four police officers were injured. However, no widespread unrest has been reported in the city.
The president’s comments come amid a broader pattern of federal intervention in U.S. cities. The Trump administration has recently deployed National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., and Memphis, while similar moves in Chicago and Portland have sparked legal challenges.
Boston Officials and FIFA Respond
Mayor Michelle Wu’s office declined to respond directly to Trump’s statements, instead reaffirming Boston’s enthusiasm for hosting the global event. “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 liberty and city of champions,” the statement read.
FIFA officials have emphasized that World Cup hosting decisions rest entirely with the organization, not the U.S. government. “It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction, FIFA makes those decisions,” said FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani earlier this month at a conference in London. He noted that the host cities—11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada—are already under contract, and that any changes would face major logistical and legal challenges just months before the June 2026 kickoff.
Trump’s Relationship with FIFA and Infantino
Despite lacking formal authority over host cities, Trump has maintained close ties with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, calling him “phenomenal.” The president claimed that, if he deemed a location unsafe, he could contact Infantino directly to request a venue change. “If somebody is doing a bad job, and if I feel there’s unsafe conditions, I would call Gianni…and they would do that,” Trump said, adding that Infantino “wouldn’t love to do it, but he’d do it very easily.”
FIFA, however, has given no indication that it intends to alter any of the planned host venues. The 2026 tournament marks the first time the World Cup will be jointly hosted by three nations and will feature a record 104 matches.
Trump’s threat to move World Cup games from the Boston area underscores ongoing tensions between federal and local leadership in key U.S. cities. While his remarks are unlikely to result in any official action—given FIFA’s control over host sites—they highlight the intersection of politics and global sports in an already politically charged climate. For now, Boston officials and FIFA remain committed to hosting fans from around the world when the tournament begins in June 2026.