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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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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By KUNLE SOLAJA

Clash of Neighbours as Stakes Soar

Neighbours Nigeria and Benin Republic will renew their rivalry in what promises to be one of their fiercest clashes ever, as the race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup reaches its climax this Tuesday.

Ordinarily, this fixture might once have been regarded as a routine win for Nigeria. But times have changed — and the pendulum now swings unpredictably as both nations fight for a place on football’s biggest stage.

Photo caption: Super Eagles in training ahead of the decisive clash in Uyo. (Photo: NFF Media)

The ‘Third Dog’ Scenario

A drama reminiscent of when two dogs fight over a bone and a third carries it away could unfold if Nigeria beat Benin and South Africa also beat Rwanda.

In that case, both Nigeria and Benin would lose the automatic ticket, with South Africa clinching qualification to the 2026 World Cup if Nigeria beat Benin and Rwanda fail to either hold or beat South Africa.

South Africa may be an unintended benefeciary of the Nigeria – Benin match

Fair Play Could Decide the Ticket

If Nigeria beat Benin and both teams finish level on 17 points with identical goal difference, the disciplinary record becomes the tiebreaker.

• Benin Republic’s Yohan Roche and Sessi d’Almeida will be key absentees on Tuesday.
• Going into the final match, nine Nigerian players have been cautioned, including Ademola Lookman (two yellow cards).
• Benin have 11 players on their caution list, with three already serving double-yellow suspensions. The three are: Dodo Dokou ( who serve his match ban in the duel witht Zimbabwe), Johan Roche and Sessi D’Almeida (both serving match ban in this Tuesday’s match).

Head-to-Head History

This will be the 24th meeting between both nations:

• Nigeria: 16 wins
• Draws: 6
• Benin: 1 win

Nigeria have scored 61 goals against Benin and conceded 11 in all encounters.

Record Victories and First Encounters

Before Nigeria’s 10–0 demolition of São Tomé and Príncipe three years ago, their biggest win was a 10–1 triumph over Benin (then Dahomey) on 29 November 1959.

A rare colour photograph of Nigeria’s earliest encounter with Benin (then Dahomey) The Nigerian team, in red and tagged Red Devils, beat Dahomey 10-1 66 years ago.

Interestingly, Benin’s first-ever international match was also against Nigeria — on 8 November 1959. Nigeria won 1-0 in the encounter played at Porto Novo.

Historic Upset in 2024

When Benin beat Nigeria 2–1 on Matchday 4 of the current qualifiers, it was their first-ever victory over the Super Eagles — a historic upset that reignited this long-standing rivalry.

Pioneers and Goal Heroes

• Abudu Buraimoh became Nigeria’s first hat-trick scorer in that 1959 match when Nigeria beat the then Dahomey 10-1.
• Elkanah Onyeali netted four goals in the same game.
• The very first Nigerian goal against Benin came from Albert Onyeawuna in a 1–0 win in Porto Novo in 1959.

Valentine and January Goal Feasts

Nigeria once celebrated Valentine’s Day in style — thrashing Benin 7–0 on 14 February 1977.
The then Green Eagles followed that up with another 7–0 win on 14 January 1978.

Adokiye’s Academic Debut

The magical left winger Adokiye Amiesimaka made his international debut while still an undergraduate at the University of Lagos, featuring in Nigeria’s 7–0 win over Benin on 14 February 1977.

Jatau’s Rare International Goal

Nigeria Professional League’s first top scorer, Ishaya Jatau, recorded his only international goal in a 1990 AFCON qualifier against Benin in Cotonou on 30 September 1990.

Yobo’s Unbroken Run Ended

It was also in a Benin–Nigeria fixture that Joseph Yobo’s record of 23 consecutive full AFCON appearances (2002–2010) came to an end.

Benin Republic put an end the streak of Yobo at Afcon.

In the 16 January 2010 match in Benguela, Angola, Yobo was injured in the 55th minute and replaced by Onyekachi Apam.

Benin’s ‘Other Super Eagles’

Over a decade ago, Benin Republic fielded a team filled with players of Nigerian descent, earning the tag “The Other Super Eagles.”
They included:
Muri Ogunbiyi, Jonas Oketola, Emmanuel Fabiyi, Razak Omotoyossi, Babatounde Bello, Moussa Latoundji, and Wasiou Oladikpokpo.

Even today, players of Nigerian origin continue to feature prominently in Benin’s national squad. Even the scorer of their last goal in Rwanda, Tosin Aiyegun is of Nigerian descent. Tosin was born in Nigeria to a Nigerian father and Beninese mother.

Nigerian-born Oluwatosin Aiyegun put Benin ahead in the Group C World Cup qualifier

Conclusion

Beyond the numbers and nostalgia, Tuesday’s encounter is more than a football match — it’s a battle for pride, redemption, and history.
For Nigeria, victory could keep hope alive. For Benin, it could cement their greatest footballing chapter yet.

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