Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has endorsed suggestions for fans to avoid traveling to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, citing security and political concerns under President Donald Trump. Blatter supported comments from anti-corruption expert Mark Pieth, who advised supporters to stay away due to immigration issues and domestic unrest. The calls come amid growing international criticism of the US as a co-host.
Sepp Blatter, who led FIFA from 1998 to 2015 before resigning amid a corruption scandal, posted on X on January 26, 2026, quoting Swiss lawyer Mark Pieth and adding, “I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup.” Pieth, who chaired FIFA's Independent Governance Committee a decade ago to oversee reforms, warned in an interview with Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger that the US political climate makes it unsafe for fans. He stated, “What we are seeing domestically – the marginalisation of political opponents, abuses by immigration services, et. – hardly encourages fans to go there.” Pieth specifically advised, “For fans, just one piece of advice: avoid the United States! You’ll get a better view on television anyway. Upon arrival, fans should expect that if they don’t behave properly with the authorities, they will be immediately sent home. If they’re lucky …”
The concerns stem from recent incidents, including the fatal shootings of US citizens Renee Good, a protester, and Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis this January. These events have fueled protests against aggressive immigration enforcement. Additionally, Trump's expansionist policies, such as interest in acquiring Greenland from Denmark, and travel bans affecting fans from countries like Senegal, Ivory Coast, Iran, and Haiti, have heightened tensions. Fans from these nations are barred from entering the US unless they hold existing visas, disrupting travel plans for supporters of qualified teams.
Oke Göttlich, vice president of the German Football Association and president of Bundesliga club St. Pauli, echoed the sentiment in an interview with Hamburger Morgenpost, saying the time has come to “seriously consider and discuss” a boycott. He compared it to the 1980s Olympic boycotts over the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, noting, “By my reckoning, the potential threat is greater now than it was then. We need to have this discussion.”
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, will feature most matches in the US, including the final at MetLife Stadium. Current FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who replaced Blatter and has close ties to Trump, has not commented on the boycott suggestions. While no official government boycotts are planned, fan groups and petitions in Europe, such as in the Netherlands and Denmark, indicate waning enthusiasm for attending US-hosted games.
