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Boston's mayor, Mayor Wu, indicated that the city was ready for a dispute with President Donald Trump regarding his assertion that he could order FIFA to relocate World Cup tournament matches from Gillette Stadium, situated approximately 35 kilometers south-west of Boston.

Wu appeared on a Boston-based podcast this week to answer criticism from the White House, which had described her as "far-left." President Trump had warned that he would contact FIFA President Gianni Infantino if Boston did not "improve its situation."

A great deal of it is locked down by agreement so that no one, even if they live in the White House, can change it.

Wu continued, "We live in a time where for attention, for power, for pushing the boundaries ... ongoing threats ... are issued at individuals and communities who refuse to back down and comply or follow along to a hateful agenda."

She also remarked, "We are going to continue being who we are, and that means, unfortunately, we are going to be part of a discussion that is challenging what Boston stands for." Wu concluded by emphasizing her commitment for the Boston, declaring, "Ten toes down for Boston."

Trump's Comments and FIFA Involvement

Earlier this week, Infantino was seen alongside Trump at the international summit in Sharm el-Sheikh. The FIFA president has also visited the Oval Office and given World Cup tournament and club championship awards to Trump as presents.

Earlier, Trump was asked about unrest in a Boston neighborhood that involved a police vehicle being burned. He replied, "If somebody is doing a bad job, and if I feel there's danger, I would call Gianni – the president of FIFA, who's phenomenal."

Trump continued, "I'd tell him: 'Let's move into another location' and they would comply. He might not prefer it. But he would do it without hesitation." The president also specifically targeted Mayor Wu, stating, "Their mayor is not good ... she's radical left, and they're taking over parts of Boston. That's a pretty big statement, right?"

Previous Threats and 2026 World Cup Details

President Trump has previously suggested that he would have the same conversation with Infantino about relocating matches from other host cities, which are part of the 16 locations across North America.

The US is co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with Mexico and Canada. The expanded tournament is scheduled to be held from June 11 to July 19 in the coming year.