Boston mayor Michelle Wu dismisses Trump threat to remove World Cup games from city | World Cup 2026
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has hinted that the city is ready to confront US President Donald Trump over allegations that he may order FIFA to cancel World Cup matches at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, 35 kilometers southwest.
Wu appeared on local podcast “Java with Jimmy” on Wednesday to respond to criticism from the White House on Tuesday that labeled the Democrat a “radical left.” Trump said he would call FIFA president Gianni Infantino if Boston “does not clean up its act.”
“Most of them are locked in by contract so that no one can undo it even if they live in the White House now,” Wu said. “We are in a world where ongoing threats… for drama, for control, for pushing boundaries… are directed against individuals and communities who refuse to step back and conform or obey a hateful agenda.
“We’re going to continue to be ourselves, and that unfortunately means we’re going to be engaging in a conversation that targets Boston’s values,” Wu added. “Ten fingers down from Boston.”
Infantino appeared in photos with Trump at the Gaza summit earlier this week. The FIFA president also visited the Oval Office and presented the World Cup and Club World Cup trophies to Trump.
On Tuesday, Trump was asked about recent unrest in South Boston, including a police car being set on fire. “If someone is doing a bad job and I feel there are unsafe conditions, I call Gianni. [Infantino] – Extraordinary president of FIFA,” Trump replied.
“I would say, ‘Let’s move somewhere else,’ and they would do it. He didn’t like to do it. But he would do it very easily.” Trump also directly criticized Wu, saying: “Mayors are no good… He’s a radical leftist and they’re taking over parts of Boston. That’s a pretty big statement, right?”
Trump had previously suggested that he would have the same conversation with Infantino about moving the games from Seattle and San Francisco, which are among the 16 host cities in North America.
The United States will co-host the 2026 World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada. The event, featuring 48 teams, is planned to be played next summer from June 11 to July 19.
