Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter Urges Fans to Boycott 2026 World Cup in the United States
On January 26, 2026, former FIFA president Sepp Blatter sparked controversy by backing calls for fans to “stay away” from the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States. Blatter’s statement came in response to comments made by Mark Pieth, a Swiss attorney and anti-corruption expert, who expressed concerns about the suitability of the United States as a host country due to the conduct of President Donald Trump and his administration.
According to a report by The Associated Press, Pieth, who chaired the Independent Governance Committee’s oversight of FIFA reform a decade ago, stated, “If we consider everything we’ve discussed, there’s only one piece of advice for fans: Stay away from the USA! You’ll see it better on TV anyway. And upon arrival, fans should expect that if they don’t please the officials, they’ll be put straight on the next flight home. If they’re lucky.” Blatter, who was president of FIFA from 1998 to 2015, quoted Pieth’s comments on social media and added, “I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup.”
International Soccer Community’s Concerns
The international soccer community’s concerns about the United States stem from Trump’s expansionist posture on Greenland, travel bans, and aggressive tactics in dealing with migrants and immigration enforcement protestors in American cities, particularly Minneapolis. Oke Göttlich, one of the vice presidents of the German soccer federation, told the Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper that the time had come to seriously consider boycotting the World Cup.
Additionally, travel plans for fans from two of the top soccer countries in Africa, Senegal and Ivory Coast, were thrown into disarray when the Trump administration announced a ban that would effectively bar people from these countries from following their teams unless they already have visas. Fans from Iran and Haiti, two other countries that have qualified for the World Cup, will also be barred from entering the United States, as they were included in the first iteration of the travel ban announced by the Trump administration.
FIFA’s Response
FIFA president Gianni Infantino addressed the concerns, stating, “People want to go, and they will go and celebrate together. We always, always celebrate football together.” However, Infantino also acknowledged that the high ticket prices for the World Cup could be further affected by fans with tickets in hand looking to sell them for profit on resale sites, thus driving up the cost. The list price for a Category 1 ticket for the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19 is set at $8,680, sparking criticism from fan groups.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, the controversy surrounding the United States as a host country continues to grow. With concerns about fan safety, travel restrictions, and high ticket prices, it remains to be seen how the tournament will unfold. According to FIFA, the United States is co-hosting the World Cup with Canada and Mexico from June 11-July 19.
