As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, President Donald Trump has found a new target for his criticism in Boston. At a press conference on Tuesday, he attacked Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, saying he may ask FIFA to strip Boston of hosting rights, citing safety concerns.
“I love the people of Boston,” President Trump said. “But your mayor is not good. She is intelligent, but she is a radical leftist.” He also said he could call FIFA president Gianni Infantino and tell him to move the match elsewhere.
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Boston is one of 11 US cities preparing to host the World Cup next year. Seven games are scheduled for Gillette Stadium, including two knockout round games and one quarterfinal game. Tickets for these games are already sold out, which shows how much excitement this tournament has brought to the region.
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If President Trump somehow manages to persuade FIFA to postpone the tournament, there will be major logistical disruption. Thousands of fans have already booked hotels, travel and tickets. Local businesses are expecting millions of dollars in tourism spending.
But FIFA officials say the president has no such authority. FIFA Vice-President Victor Montagliani explained that only FIFA can decide on the host city. “This is a FIFA tournament, it’s FIFA’s jurisdiction, and FIFA makes those decisions,” he told ESPN.
You can do it, you can take it away. I know the games are sold out because I love the people of Boston. But the mayor is no good.
Boston officials have not commented directly on Trump’s remarks, but local leaders continue to prepare for the event. According to WCVB Boston, hosting the games could bring hundreds of millions of dollars to the local economy through tourism, jobs and international exposure.
The World Cup is scheduled to begin in June 2026, with matches to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada. For now, Boston remains one of the main host cities. It remains to be seen whether President Trump’s words will turn into actual action or just political noise, but the countdown to kickoff continues.
