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President Donald Trump has suggested he will push for a withdrawal of 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in Boston if the city’s Mayor, Michelle Wu, does not crack down on crime, including a violent street takeover targeting police.
Trump made the suggestion while answering media questions during his meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei at the White House on Tuesday, threatening to call FIFA President Gianni Infantino to move games to cooperating cities, citing security concerns.
“We can take them away. I love the people of Boston. And I know the games are sold out, but the mayor is no good. There are worse people than her. At least she’s smart, you know, some people have extremely low IQs. That bothers me more. She’s smart, but she’s radical left,” Trump said.
Blue City Street takeover suspects police vehicle torched in ‘hellish’ attack on cops: union chief
“The answer is yes, if someone is doing a bad job and if I feel the conditions are not safe, I would call Gianni, the director of FIFA, who is phenomenal, and I would say ‘let’s move him somewhere else’, and he would do it. He wouldn’t like to do it, but he would do it, very easily, he would do it. And this is the right time to do it.”
Trump’s comments come after a group of people took over one of the city’s streets in a violent incident this week. The president of a union that represents Boston Police said those involved in a recent takeover of city streets were “determined” to attack law enforcement.
According to the Boston Police Department, more than 100 people were involved in the takeover that involved street racing just after 2 a.m. on October 5. Officers found people trying to attack police cars with fireworks, cones, poles and other objects.
A police car was destroyed by the flames and had to be towed away from the area, officials said.
Boston is currently scheduled to host seven matches at the World Cup in North America next summer. The list includes five group stage matches, a round of 16 match and the first quarter-final on July 9.
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Mayor Michelle Wu speaks at a news conference in Boston. (Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
PK Press Club Digital has contacted Wu’s office for further comment.
Trump added that he would also consider pulling the 2028 Summer Olympics out of Los Angeles for similar reasons.
“I could say the same thing for the Olympics,” he said. “If I thought Los Angeles wasn’t prepared properly, I would move it somewhere else.”
Wu accused the Trump administration of being a party that “does not follow the law.”
President Donald Trump holds the World Cup trophy in the Oval Office; Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. (Getty Images)
“At a time when this federal administration is already causing so much fear and harm in our communities, these threats are serious and far-reaching,” Wu said in August.
The remarks come after the Trump administration warned it could sue or cut federal funds if cities refuse to cooperate on immigration enforcement.
