Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter Endorses Proposed Fan Boycott of US World Cup Matches
In a significant development that has sent shockwaves through the international soccer community, former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has publicly backed a proposed fan boycott of World Cup matches scheduled to be held in the United States. This controversial stance, announced on Monday, directly cites the conduct of former President Donald Trump and his administration both domestically and internationally as the primary reason for this drastic recommendation.
Blatter's Public Support for Boycott Movement
Blatter, who served as president of world soccer's governing body from 1998 to 2015 before resigning amid corruption investigations, became the latest high-profile international soccer figure to question the suitability of the United States as a host country for the prestigious tournament. He expressed his support for the boycott through a post on the social media platform X, where he explicitly endorsed comments made by Swiss attorney Mark Pieth in a recent interview with the Swiss newspaper Der Bund.
"I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup," Blatter wrote in his social media post, quoting Pieth's earlier statements. This public alignment with the boycott movement represents a significant escalation in the growing controversy surrounding the United States' role as co-host of the upcoming tournament.
The Origins of the Boycott Proposal
The boycott proposal originated with Mark Pieth, a Swiss attorney specializing in white-collar crime and an internationally recognized anti-corruption expert. Pieth previously chaired the Independent Governance Committee that oversaw FIFA reform efforts a decade ago. In his interview with Der Bund, Pieth offered stark advice to soccer fans considering attending matches in the United States.
"If we consider everything we've discussed, there's only one piece of advice for fans: Stay away from the USA!" Pieth declared. "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."
Pieth's comments reflect growing international concern about travel restrictions and immigration policies implemented during the Trump administration that could significantly impact fans' ability to attend World Cup matches in the United States.
Specific Concerns Driving International Opposition
The international soccer community's concerns about the United States as a host country stem from multiple aspects of Trump administration policies and actions:
- Expansionist posture regarding Greenland
- Implementation of controversial travel bans affecting multiple nations
- Aggressive tactics in dealing with migrants and immigration enforcement protestors in American cities, particularly Minneapolis
These concerns have gained traction among soccer officials worldwide. Oke Göttlich, one of the vice presidents of the German soccer federation, told the Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper in an interview on Friday that the time had come to seriously consider boycotting the World Cup.
Practical Implications for International Fans
The boycott discussion has been fueled by concrete travel restrictions that could prevent fans from attending matches. Two weeks prior to Blatter's statement, the Trump administration announced a ban that effectively bars people from Senegal and Ivory Coast from following their national teams to the United States unless they already possess valid visas. Trump cited "screening and vetting deficiencies" as the primary justification for these suspensions.
Furthermore, fans from Iran and Haiti—two other countries that have qualified for the World Cup—will also be barred from entering the United States under the first iteration of the travel ban announced by the Trump administration. These restrictions create significant practical barriers for supporters hoping to cheer on their national teams in person during the tournament.
The Broader Context of the 2026 World Cup
The United States is scheduled to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. This tri-nation hosting arrangement was intended to showcase North American unity and hospitality to the global soccer community. However, the boycott movement supported by Blatter and other international figures now threatens to overshadow these preparations and create diplomatic tensions surrounding the tournament.
The controversy highlights how geopolitical considerations and national policies increasingly intersect with major international sporting events, potentially affecting everything from fan attendance to the overall atmosphere and success of tournaments designed to bring nations together through athletic competition.
