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Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has thrown his support behind calls for football fans to boycott the upcoming FIFA World Cup to be hosted in the United States, citing concerns about the conduct of President Donald Trump and his administration.
Blatter made the comments in a post on X on Monday, endorsing remarks by Swiss anti-corruption expert Mark Pieth, who questioned the suitability of the United States as a host nation. The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
Mark Pieth, a former chair of FIFA’s Independent Governance Committee, told Swiss newspaper Der Bund that fans should avoid travelling to the U.S. for the tournament. He warned that visitors could face harsh treatment from U.S. authorities, including the risk of deportation.
“If we consider everything we’ve discussed, there’s only one piece of advice for fans: stay away from the USA,” Pieth stated.
Quoting Pieth, Blatter added that he believed the concerns raised were valid, saying the World Cup’s hosting deserved serious questioning.
Concerns within the global football community have intensified following President Trump’s expansionist rhetoric, stricter immigration enforcement, and new travel bans. These policies have affected fans from several countries whose national teams have qualified for the tournament.
Recently, supporters from Senegal and Ivory Coast faced travel disruptions after a U.S. travel ban prevented entry for those without existing visas. Similar restrictions already apply to fans from Iran and Haiti.
Boycott calls have also emerged in Europe. Oke Göttlich, a vice president of the German Football Association, said it was time to seriously consider a boycott of the tournament.
The World Cup has also faced backlash from fan groups over soaring ticket prices. A Category 1 ticket for the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19 has been listed for as much as $8,680 due to dynamic pricing and high demand.
Despite the criticism, FIFA president Gianni Infantino dismissed boycott concerns, maintaining that fans would still attend the tournament.
“People want to go, and they will go and celebrate together. We always, always celebrate football together,” Infantino said.
