Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has joined calls urging football supporters to avoid traveling to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing concerns over President Donald Trump’s conduct and the policies of his administration.
Blatter expressed his position in a post on X on Monday, where he endorsed comments made by Swiss anti-corruption expert Mark Pieth, who has questioned the suitability of the United States as a host for the tournament.
The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
Pieth, who previously chaired FIFA’s Independent Governance Committee during reform efforts a decade ago, told Swiss newspaper Der Bund that fans should avoid traveling to the U.S. for the tournament. “If we consider everything we’ve discussed, there’s only one piece of advice for fans: stay away from the USA,” Pieth said, warning that visitors could face harsh treatment from U.S. authorities, including deportation.
Blatter, who served as FIFA president from 1998 until his resignation in 2015 amid corruption investigations, quoted Pieth’s comments and added his own endorsement. “I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup,” he said.
Concerns within the international football community have intensified in recent months following Trump’s expansionist rhetoric, stricter immigration enforcement and the introduction of new travel bans, some of which affect supporters from countries whose teams have qualified for the tournament.
Two weeks ago, travel plans for fans from Senegal and Ivory Coast were disrupted after a U.S. policy change that would prevent entry unless they already held valid visas. Similar restrictions already apply to supporters from Iran and Haiti, which were included in an earlier version of the travel ban.
The debate has also gained traction in Europe. Oke Göttlich, vice president of the German Football Association, said last week that it was time to seriously consider a boycott of the tournament.
Beyond political concerns, the tournament has faced criticism from fan groups over ticket pricing. Due to dynamic pricing and high demand, the listed price for a Category 1 ticket for the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19 has reportedly reached as high as $8,680.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has acknowledged that resale activity could further push prices upward but has played down the impact of boycott calls. “People want to go, and they will go and celebrate together. We always, always celebrate football together,” Infantino said when asked about Blatter’s comments.
