Joseph Blatter, former president of FIFA who led the organization between 1998 and 2015, publicly backs a proposal for fan boycotts of matches at the 2026 World Cup in the United States. On Monday, January 26, Blatter posted on X his support for statements by Swiss lawyer Mark Pieth, who criticized the suitability of the United States as host country. Blatter wrote: “For the fans, there is only one piece of advice: stay away from the United States! I believe Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup.”
Blatter’s concerns center on the conduct of President Donald Trump and his administration, both on domestic and foreign matters. The former president cites problems related to aggressive immigration policies. He also mentions travel bans for citizens of multiple countries and the treatment of migrants and protesters by law enforcement. These actions, according to Blatter, create a hostile environment that discourages international fans from attending the tournament. The 2026 World Cup will be played from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Mexico and Canada. However, criticism is aimed primarily at the United States as host country.
What are the specific concerns?
Mark Pieth, Swiss specialist in white-collar crime and anti-corruption, was more specific in his warnings. In an interview with Swiss newspaper Der Bund on January 23, Pieth stated: “If we consider everything we have discussed, there is only one piece of advice for the fans: stay away from the United States! You will see it better on television anyway. Upon arrival, fans should expect that if they do not comply with officials, they will be sent directly on the next flight home. If they are lucky.”
Pieth underscores that what we observe at the domestic level —marginalization of political opponents, immigration service abuses— hardly motivates fans to go there. The lawyer also mentioned concerns about Trump’s expansionist stance regarding Greenland. He also expressed concern about his tariff measures, which have drawn criticism from the international community. Pieth chaired a decade ago the Independent Governance Committee that oversaw FIFA reforms. This gave him credibility in matters of international governance.
What are the immigration restrictions?
The Trump administration has implemented entry bans that directly affect fans from countries with teams qualified for the tournament. Last December, Trump announced an expansion of the travel ban. This effectively prevents entry to people from Senegal and Ivory Coast, unless they already have a visa. Trump cited “deficiencies in controls and background investigations” as the main reason.
