Boston, October 16, 2025
News Summary
President Donald Trump indicated he might contact FIFA’s president to discuss moving World Cup matches from Boston due to safety concerns arising from recent unrest in the city. During a White House meeting, Trump criticized local leadership and linked the suggestion to incidents of violence, including street takeovers. Boston is scheduled to host seven World Cup matches next summer at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, raising implications for both public safety and international sporting events. Local officials reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring a welcoming and safe environment for fans.
Boston — President Donald Trump suggested he may call FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, to move World Cup matches from Boston if he perceives safety issues in the city. The comments came amid recent unrest in Boston and were made during a White House meeting, raising questions about public safety and the security of scheduled tournament events.
What happened
The suggestion to contact FIFA’s president followed reports of street takeovers and violent incidents in Boston. Trump framed the remarks as a response to concerns about public safety and indicated he could press FIFA to relocate matches if he judged conditions unsafe.
Where and when
Those World Cup matches are scheduled to take place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, about 22 miles southwest of Boston. Boston is set to host seven World Cup matches during the tournament next summer, including five group-stage games, one Round of 32 fixture, and the first quarterfinal on July 9. The suggestion to reconsider the site was raised while Trump was meeting with Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, in the Oval Office.
Officials’ responses and context
Trump criticized Boston’s local leadership and characterized the city’s governance as problematic, citing recent disturbances as part of his rationale. Mayor Michelle Wu responded by saying Boston is honored and excited to host World Cup matches and emphasized the city’s commitment to welcoming fans worldwide. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey addressed the violent incidents, pledging firm action against such occurrences and the need for public safety.
FIFA officials pushed back on political intervention, with the organization and its vice president noting that FIFA has established processes for determining host sites and that security assessments are driven by tournament organizers and local authorities. FIFA reiterated that safety and security are paramount at its events and that local governments are responsible for public safety assessments.
Supporting details
Trump said he expected that FIFA leadership would agree to move matches if they were convinced safety was at risk, though he indicated such a move would not be his preference. He has made similar threats in the past about relocating games from other U.S. cities, including Seattle and San Francisco, citing comparable concerns about local governance and public safety.
In addition to the 2026 World Cup comments regarding Boston, Trump also mentioned that he would consider moving the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics because of perceived safety issues tied to recent wildfire responses in California. FIFA and its officials emphasized that any decision to change venues would follow the organization’s internal procedures and coordination with local and national authorities.
Why it matters
The potential relocation of major international sporting events raises questions about the roles of national political leaders, tournament organizers, and local governments in ensuring public safety. Moves of this scale would have logistical, economic, and diplomatic implications for host cities, local businesses, and international stakeholders planning to attend.
Background
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted across multiple U.S. cities, and sites were selected through FIFA’s bidding and coordination process. Security planning for major tournaments typically involves collaboration among event organizers, local law enforcement, and national agencies. Public disturbances in host regions can prompt reviews of security protocols, though relocation of matches is rare and generally follows formal assessments by event organizers.
FAQ
Q: What did President Donald Trump suggest regarding World Cup matches in Boston?
A: President Donald Trump suggested he may call FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, to move World Cup matches from Boston if he perceives safety issues in the city.
Q: When and where did Trump make these comments?
A: Trump made these comments during a meeting with Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, in the Oval Office.
Q: Where are the Boston World Cup matches scheduled to be played?
A: Those World Cup matches are scheduled to take place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, about 22 miles southwest of Boston.
Q: How many matches will Boston host and which notable match is included?
A: Boston is set to host seven World Cup matches during the tournament next summer, including five group-stage games, one Round of 32 fixture, and the first quarterfinal on July 9.
Q: What recent incidents prompted the safety concerns?
A: Recent unrest in Boston included street takeovers and incidents of violence, with a police cruiser reportedly set on fire.
Q: How did state leadership respond to the unrest?
A: Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey addressed the violent incidents, pledging firm action against such occurrences and the need for public safety.
Quick reference table
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Stadium | Gillette Stadium |
| Location | Foxborough, about 22 miles southwest of Boston |
| Number of matches Boston will host | Seven matches (five group-stage games, one Round of 32 fixture, first quarterfinal) |
| Key match date | First quarterfinal on July 9 |
| Where Trump raised the issue | Meeting with Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, in the Oval Office |
| FIFA contact mentioned | FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino |
| Local official response | Mayor Michelle Wu said Boston is honored and excited to host World Cup matches and emphasized the city’s commitment to welcoming fans worldwide |
| State leadership response | Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey pledged firm action and emphasized public safety |
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Additional Resources
- Fox News
- Wikipedia: 2026 FIFA World Cup
- The Guardian
- Google Search: World Cup Boston safety concerns
- ESPN
- Encyclopedia Britannica: FIFA World Cup
- CBS News
- Google News: Trump Boston’s World Cup concerns
- New York Times
- AP News
Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER
BOSTON STAFF WRITER The BOSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBoston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Boston, Suffolk County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Boston Marathon, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Boston Harborfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, plus leading businesses in finance, biotech, and insurance that power the local economy such as Fidelity Investments, Biogen, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Massachusetts's dynamic landscape.
