President Donald Trump has threatened to relocate 2026 FIFA World Cup matches scheduled for suburban Boston, citing unrest in the city and criticizing Mayor Michelle Wu. The comments came amid concerns over recent protests, though FIFA holds authority over host selections.
On Tuesday, during a meeting with Argentina President Javier Milei, Trump addressed questions about Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, whom he described as 'intelligent' but 'radical left.' He suggested parts of Boston had been 'taken over' by unrest, without providing specifics, and stated, 'We could take them away,' referring to the World Cup games planned for Foxborough, Massachusetts, about 30 miles from Boston.
Foxborough, home to the NFL's New England Patriots, is set to host matches as the United States co-hosts the 2026 World Cup with Mexico and Canada. Trump added, 'I love the people of Boston and I know the games are sold out. But your mayor is not good,' and claimed the games could be reclaimed 'in about two seconds.'
The threat follows a pro-Palestinian protest earlier this month on Boston Common that turned violent, resulting in multiple arrests and injuries to four police officers. Wu's office responded with a statement: '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.'
However, host sites are locked in under contracts with FIFA, confirmed in 2022, involving 11 U.S. cities, three in Mexico, and two in Canada. FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani emphasized, 'It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction, FIFA makes those decisions.' Trump countered that he could contact FIFA President Gianni Infantino, a close ally, to shift venues if conditions were unsafe, saying Infantino 'wouldn’t love to do it, but he’d do it very easily.'
The tournament is slated to begin on June 11, leaving limited time for changes amid logistical and legal challenges.