Trump Warns Boston Could Lose World Cup Games, Would Be Economic Blow to RI
GoLocalProv News Team
Trump Warns Boston Could Lose World Cup Games, Would Be Economic Blow to RI
Trump made the comments during a press event with Argentinian President Javier Milei on Tuesday. Milei was visiting the White House for the announcement of a $20 billion bailout.
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During the event, a reporter asked Trump about a recent “street takeover” in Boston that saw police officers attacked and a police car set on fire.
Two Rhode Island men were arrested as part of the incident.
The reporter also asked if Trump would work with Michelle Wu, the mayor of Boston, to address the issue of violence.
“We could take them away,” Trump said of the World Cup games, which are due to be held at Gillette Stadium. “Their mayor is not good … she’s radical left, and they’re taking over parts of Boston. That’s a pretty big statement, right?”
The World Cup games are expected to be an economic boon to Rhode Island. According to projections, Rhode Island could generate $100 million in economic activity from the games.
The 11 host U.S. cities -- plus three in Mexico and two in Canada -- are contracted with FIFA, which would face significant logistical and legal issues to make changes in the eight months before the June 11 kickoff.
"It's FIFA's tournament, FIFA's jurisdiction; FIFA makes those decisions," the soccer body's vice president Victor Montagliani said earlier this month at a sports business conference in London, according to ESPN.
This story was first published 10/14/25 8:57 PM