World Cup
Donald Trump threatens to pull World Cup matches from Boston
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he could consider relocating 2026 World Cup matches scheduled for the Boston area, citing public safety concerns and criticizing Mayor Michelle Wu.
“We could take them away,” Trump said when asked about Boston’s readiness to host. “I love the people of Boston, and I know the games are sold out. But your mayor is not good.”
“She’s intelligent, but she’s radical left, and they’re taking over parts of Boston,” he said. “We could get them back in about two seconds. All she has to do is call us. We’ll go in and take them back, but she’s afraid to because she thinks it’s bad politically.”
Seven World Cup games are slated for Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, about 30 miles southwest of Boston, as part of the 2026 tournament co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. FIFA finalized the 16 host cities and match allocations in 2022.
Trump suggested he could appeal directly to FIFA president Gianni Infantino and get the games relocated.
“If somebody is doing a bad job, and if I feel there’s unsafe conditions, I would call Gianni — the head of FIFA who’s phenomenal — and I would say, ‘Let’s move into another location,’ and they would do that,” Trump said. “He wouldn’t love to do it, but he’d do it very easily.”
Tournament control ultimately rests with FIFA. Earlier this month, FIFA vice president Victor Montagliani reiterated the body’s authority over venue decisions: “It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction. FIFA makes those decisions.”
Trump’s remarks came during his White House appearance with Argentine President Javier Milei, days after Boston police reported multiple arrests tied to a late-night street gathering that turned violent. Wu’s office did not immediately comment.
World Cup organizers have touted significant economic impact for host markets, with high demand reported since ticket applications opened. Any late venue changes would entail extensive logistical and contractual hurdles, given that the tournament’s June 11 kickoff is eight months away.
The first match in Boston is scheduled for June 13, featuring teams from Group C on Day 3 of the tournament.
-Reuters
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Cote d’Ivoire overcame Kenya 3-0 in their final qualifier on Tuesday to finish top of their group and secure a berth at next year’s World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.
The Ivorians are reigning African champions and will be competing at a fourth World Cup but first since 2014.
-Reuters
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Morocco set a new record of 16 successive victories by a national team as they completed their World Cup qualifying campaign with 1-0 home win over Congo on Tuesday.
Youssef En-Nesyri scored in the 63rd minute in Rabat to ensure Morocco finished their Group E programme with eight wins from eight matches, the only side in the African preliminaries with a 100% record.
The victory saw them go past the record of 15 that Spain set, opens new tab over a 12-month period between June 2008 and June 2009.
Morocco last failed to win an international when they drew 0-0 with Mauritania in a friendly in March 2024 but have since posted victories in seven World Cup qualifiers, six qualifiers for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals and three friendlies.
Morocco’s run does not include matches played by a B team made up only of home-based players that won the African Nations Championship in Kenya in August.
Morocco’s 19-month winning run saw them score 50 goals and concede four.
Spain began their run beating Russia 3-0 in the semi-final of the 2008 European Championship and their 15th consecutive win came with a 2-0 victory over hosts South Africa in their final group game in the 2009 Confederations Cup.
They lost their record when the United States beat them in the Confederations Cup semi-final in Bloemfontein.
During their winning streak Spain only conceded twice while scoring 39.
Morocco have yet to announce plans for friendlies in the November international window but at the end of the year host the Cup of Nations finals, where they meet Comoros in the opening game on December 21.
-Reuters
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A turbo-charged Victor Osimhen powered the Super Eagles to a commanding 4-0 victory over Benin Republic, scoring a brilliant hat-trick to keep Nigeria’s World Cup hopes alive.
However, despite the emphatic win in Uyo, the result was not enough to hand Nigeria an automatic ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The direct qualification honour went instead to South Africa, in a dramatic twist reminiscent of the proverbial contest where “two dogs fight over a bone and a third carries it away.”
Nigeria’s big win briefly altered the Group C standings, momentarily pushing South Africa down, but the Bafana Bafana reclaimed top spot after defeating Rwanda 3-0 in Nelspruit.
Still, there was some consolation for the Super Eagles. The victory, combined with other favourable results — notably the 2-1 win of Algeria over Uganda — ensured Nigeria’s place in the World Cup play-offs.
As things stand, Nigeria sit third on the ranking of best runners-up, behind Gabon and Cameroon, while Burkina Faso occupy fourth position.
Osimhen’s heroics have once again underlined his importance to the team as Nigeria prepare for the decisive play-off stage that will determine their qualification fate.
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