Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has endorsed calls urging football fans to stay away from the upcoming FIFA World Cup in the United States, citing concerns about the conduct of President Donald Trump and his administration.
In a post on X on Monday, Blatter echoed remarks made by Swiss anti-corruption expert Mark Pieth, who questioned whether the United States is a suitable host for the tournament. The World Cup, scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Pieth, a Swiss lawyer and former chair of FIFA’s Independent Governance Committee during reforms a decade ago, told Swiss newspaper Der Bund that fans should avoid travelling to the U.S. for the competition. He warned that visitors could face tough 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 said.
Quoting these remarks, Blatter added: “I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup.”
Concerns have been growing within the global football community amid President Trump’s expansionist rhetoric, tightened immigration enforcement and new travel restrictions. Some of these measures affect fans from countries whose national teams have qualified for the tournament.
Recently, supporters from Senegal and Ivory Coast faced disruptions to travel plans after the U.S. administration announced restrictions that would bar entry unless they already possessed valid visas. Similar limitations apply to fans from Iran and Haiti, which were included in earlier travel bans.
Calls for a boycott have also surfaced in Europe. Last week, German Football Association vice president Oke Göttlich said the time had come to seriously consider boycotting the World Cup.
The tournament has also drawn criticism over ticket pricing. High demand and dynamic pricing have pushed the cost of a Category 1 ticket for the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19 to as much as $8,680.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino acknowledged that ticket resale could drive prices even higher but dismissed boycott concerns, maintaining that fans would still turn out in large numbers.
“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.
