Boston's Leader Mayor Wu Counters Trump's Threat to Relocate FIFA World Cup Matches from City

Boston's mayor, Mayor Wu, indicated that the municipality was ready for a face-off with US President Donald Trump over his claim that he could instruct FIFA to remove World Cup matches from the stadium in Foxborough, located 22 miles south-west of Boston.

Mayor Wu spoke on a Boston-based podcast this week to respond to criticism from the White House, which had labeled her as "radical left." President Trump had threatened that he would call the head of FIFA if Boston did not "improve its situation."

A great deal of it is locked down by agreement so that no one, even the president, can undo it.

Wu continued, "We're in a world where for attention, for control, to test limits ... ongoing threats ... are issued at people and cities who refuse to back down and submit or be obedient to a divisive plan."

Mayor Wu further stated, "We will keep being ourselves, and that means, unfortunately, we are going to be in a conversation that is targeting Boston's values." She finished by stressing her commitment for the Boston, saying, "Ten toes down for our city."

The President's Statements and FIFA's Role

Recently, FIFA President Gianni Infantino was seen with Trump at the international summit in Egypt. The FIFA president has also visited the White House and given World Cup tournament and Club World Cup trophies to the president as gifts.

Earlier, Trump was asked about recent disturbances in a Boston neighborhood that included a police vehicle being burned. Trump replied, "If things aren't handled well, and if I feel there's unsafe conditions, I would call Infantino – the head of the organization, who's phenomenal."

He added, "I'd tell him: 'We should relocate the games' and they would comply. He wouldn't love to do it. But he would do it without hesitation." Trump also specifically targeted Wu, stating, "Boston's mayor is ineffective ... she's radical left, and they're taking over parts of Boston. That's a pretty big statement, right?"

Past Warnings and Upcoming Tournament Information

Trump has made previous comments that he would have the same conversation with the FIFA president about relocating games from other host cities, which are part of the 16 host cities across North America.

The US is co-hosting the 2026 tournament with neighboring countries. The 48-team event is planned to be held from 11 June to 19 July next summer.