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The mayor of Boston, Mayor Wu, implied that the city was prepared for a face-off with US President Donald Trump regarding his assertion that he could order FIFA to relocate World Cup matches from the stadium in Foxborough, located 22 miles southwest of Boston.

Wu spoke on a Boston-based podcast recently to answer criticism from the White House, which had labeled her as "radical left." President Trump had warned that he would contact FIFA President Gianni Infantino if Boston did not "address its issues."

A great deal of it is secured by agreement so that no one, even the president, can reverse it.

She added, "We live in a time where for drama, for control, for pushing the boundaries ... ongoing threats ... are directed at individuals and communities who stand their ground and submit or follow along to a divisive plan."

She further stated, "We are going to continue being who we are, and that means, unfortunately, we are going to be in a conversation that is targeting Boston's values." She concluded by stressing her commitment for the city, saying, "Ten toes down for Boston."

The President's Comments and FIFA Involvement

Recently, FIFA President Gianni Infantino was seen alongside President Trump at the Gaza summit in Sharm el-Sheikh. Infantino has also visited the White House and given World Cup and club championship trophies to Trump as presents.

On Tuesday, Trump was questioned on unrest in South Boston that included a police car being burned. Trump responded, "If things aren't handled well, and if I feel there's danger, I would call Infantino – the head of the organization, who's phenomenal."

He added, "I'd tell him: 'Let's move into another location' and they would comply. He might not prefer it. But he would do it very easily." The president also specifically targeted Wu, saying, "Boston's mayor is ineffective ... she's far-left, and they're dominating some areas in Boston. That's a strong claim, right?"

Past Warnings and 2026 World Cup Information

Trump has made previous comments that he would have the similar discussion with Infantino about relocating games from Seattle and San Francisco, which are among the 16 host cities across North America.

The United States is joint hosts the 2026 tournament with neighboring countries. The expanded tournament is scheduled to be held from June 11 to July 19 in the coming year.