Boston Mayor Michelle Wu responded after President Donald Trump threatened to pull FIFA World Cup games out of the city next year.
"Boston is honored and excited to host World Cup matches, and we look forward to welcoming fans from around the world to our beautiful city, the cradle of liberty and city of champions," she said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.
Boston is slated to host seven matches next summer. That includes five group-stage games, one Round of 32 fixture and the first quarterfinal on July 9.
Trump floated moving the games while reacting to a violent street takeover in the city this week. He blamed local leadership and singled out the mayor.
According to the Boston Police Department, more than 100 people were involved in the takeover just after 2 a.m. on Oct. 5. Officers said rioters attacked police cruisers with fireworks, cones, poles and other objects, and one cruiser was set on fire.
"We can take them away. I love the people of Boston. And I know the games are sold out, but the mayor is not good. There are worse than her. At least she's intelligent. You know, some are extremely low IQ. Those bother me more. She's intelligent, but she's radical left," Trump said.
He also said he'd call FIFA President Gianni Infantino to push for relocating the matches. "The answer is yes, if somebody's 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 it to another location,' and he would do that. He wouldn't love to do it, but he'd do it, very easily he'd do it. And this is the right time to do it," he added.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey addressed the incident as well. She vowed action.
"I'm committed to doing everything I can to get after this issue," Healey said. "That's my message today: No more.
"Not going to happen here. And if you do it, you're going to be punished. I'm serious."