With the 2026 FIFA World Cup getting closer, President Donald Trump has found a new target for his criticism: Boston. During a press stop on Tuesday, he said he might ask FIFA to remove the city’s hosting rights, blaming safety concerns and attacking Boston’s mayor, Michelle Wu.
“I love the people of Boston,” Trump said. “But your mayor is not good. She’s intelligent, but she’s radical left.” He also mentioned that he could call FIFA president Gianni Infantino and tell him to move the matches elsewhere.
Boston is one of eleven U.S. cities preparing to host World Cup games next year. Seven matches are scheduled for Gillette Stadium, including two knockout rounds and one quarterfinal. Tickets for those games are already sold out, which shows how much excitement the tournament has brought to the region.
Politics Meets the World’s Game
If President Trump were somehow able to convince FIFA to move the games, it would create a major logistical mess. Thousands of fans have already booked hotels, travel, and tickets. Local businesses are counting on millions of dollars in tourism spending.
FIFA officials, though, have said the President does not have that kind of authority. FIFA vice president Victor Montagliani explained that only FIFA can make decisions about host cities. “It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction, FIFA makes those decisions,” he told ESPN.
We could, we could take them away. I love the people of Boston, I know the games are sold out. But your mayor is not good.
Boston officials have not commented directly on Trump’s remarks, but local leaders have continued preparations for the event. According to WCVB Boston, hosting the matches could bring hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy through tourism, jobs, and international exposure.
The World Cup is set to begin in June 2026, with matches spread across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. For now, Boston remains one of the key host cities. Whether Trump’s comments turn into real action or just political noise remains to be seen, but the countdown to kickoff continues.
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