Trump threatens to yank World Cup games from Boston though it’s up to FIFA to choose sites
WASHINGTON AP President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to relocate World Cup matches set to be played next year in suburban Boston after suggesting that parts of the city had been taken over by unrest Foxborough Massachusetts home to the NFL s New England Patriots and about miles from Boston is set to stage matches as the U S cohosts the World Cup with Mexico and Canada Trump was demanded about Boston s mayor Michelle Wu a Democrat whom he called intelligent but radical left We could take them away Trump revealed 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 He suggested they re taking over parts of Boston without offering details but added we could get them back in about two seconds The Trump administration has already deployed National Guard troops to Washington and Memphis and efforts to do so in Chicago and Portland Oregon have sparked legal fights Wu s office did not react directly to Trump s threat issuing a report that read 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 Trump s comments came during his meeting with Argentina President Javier Milei and it wasn t right now clear what he was referring to by parts of Boston having been seized Earlier this month however there were multiple arrests in connection with a pro-Palestinian protest that turned violent on Boston Common Four police officers were injured Trump has previously suggested he could declare cities not safe for the -game soccer tournament and alter a detailed hosting plan that FIFA substantiated in It includes games at NFL stadiums near New York Los Angeles and San Francisco World Cup host sites aren t up to Trump The U S cities plus three in Mexico and two in Canada are contracted with FIFA which would face major logistical and legal issues to make changes in the eight months before the June kickoff It s FIFA s tournament FIFA s jurisdiction FIFA makes those decisions the soccer body s vice president Victor Montagliani explained earlier this month at a sports business conference in London Trump nonetheless 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 meant FIFA head Gianni Infantino a close ally Trump mentioned Infantino wouldn t love to do it but he d do it very easily
