U.S. President Donald Trump issued a warning on Tuesday about potentially relocating World Cup matches scheduled to take place near Boston next year due to his concerns over unrest in parts of the city. Foxborough, Massachusetts, the location for the matches and home to the New England Patriots, is approximately 48 kilometers from Boston and is one of the venues for the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada. Trump expressed his views on Boston’s mayor, Michelle Wu, referring to her as “intelligent” but labeling her as “radical left.”
During a discussion, Trump mentioned the possibility of moving the World Cup games, stating, “We could take them away. I have a great fondness for the people of Boston, and I understand that the games are fully booked. However, your mayor is not performing well.” He claimed that certain areas of Boston were being overrun without specifying further details but suggested that the situation could be rectified swiftly.
The Trump administration has already dispatched National Guard troops to Washington and Memphis, with additional efforts in Chicago and Portland, Oregon, leading to legal disputes. There was no immediate response from Wu’s office regarding Trump’s remarks.
Trump’s comments were made during a meeting with Argentina President Javier Milei, although it remains unclear what specific incidents he was alluding to regarding the situation in Boston. Notably, recent events include multiple arrests following a violent pro-Palestinian protest at Boston Common, resulting in injuries to four police officers.
In the past, Trump had hinted at the possibility of deeming certain cities as “unsafe” for the 104-game soccer tournament and altering the hosting plan confirmed by FIFA in 2022, which involves games at NFL stadiums close to New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. However, the final decision on World Cup host sites rests with FIFA, as the contracted cities in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada are under the jurisdiction of the soccer governing body. Any changes to the hosting locations in the eight months leading up to the June 11 start date would pose significant logistical and legal challenges.
While Trump emphasized his authority to raise concerns about safety conditions to FIFA’s President Gianni Infantino, he acknowledged that the ultimate decision lies with the organization. Infantino, a trusted associate of Trump, was mentioned as someone who could potentially facilitate any location changes, albeit unwillingly.