Trump Threatens to Move World Cup Games From Boston Over ‘Unsafe Conditions’

President Donald Trump said on Oct. 14 that he would consider moving the 2026 World Cup matches from Boston to another location if the city’s safety concerns were not resolved.

Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, is set to host seven matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the United States is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.

During a press conference at the White House, Trump was asked by a reporter whether he would consider relocating the games to another location in light of the recent “street takeovers” in Boston, where hundreds of individuals have blocked streets.

“We can take [the games] away. I love the people of Boston, and I know the games are sold out, but your mayor is not good,” the president responded.

Trump noted that “they are taking over parts of Boston” without offering any details about whom he was referring to. He suggested that federal law enforcement “could get them back in about two seconds” if Boston Mayor Michelle Wu were to request assistance.

“All she has to do is call us. We’ll go in and take them back. But she’s afraid to because she thinks it’s bad politically. She could get them back, too. The Boston police are great,” he said.

Trump told reporters that he would call FIFA President Gianni Infantino to have the games moved to another location if he felt there were “unsafe conditions” in Boston.

“[Infantino] wouldn’t love to do it, but he’d do it, very easily, he’d do it. And this is the right time to do it,” he said. “Boston better clean up their act, that’s all I can say.”

Wu has not yet publicly commented on Trump’s remarks, and her office did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.

Multiple arrests have been made in Boston following protests in the city.

Boston Police Department said in a statement earlier this month that officers were responding to an unrelated emergency on Oct. 7 when 200 to 300 individuals “blocked Tremont Street near Winter Street, preventing police vehicles from passing.”

When police attempted to move them, “protesters surrounded police cruisers, kicked vehicle doors, and resisted dispersal efforts.”

“Several officers were assaulted during this period, including one struck in the face,” police stated.

Police stated that officers made numerous arrests of people engaged in “unlawful assembly, violent resistance, and the obstruction of emergency response efforts.” Four officers were transported to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.

Wu has warned that anyone who engages in attacks against police officers will be prosecuted “to the fullest extent of the law.”

“Boston will not tolerate violence, and we categorically condemn those who came into our community to attack our police officers,” the mayor said on Oct. 8.

Jack Phillips contributed to this report.