Sepp Blatter, former longtime president of FIFA who led the organization for nearly 17 years until his 2015 resignation amid corruption scandals, has publicly endorsed growing calls for soccer fans to avoid attending matches in the United States during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is set to feature a record 48 teams and will see the majority of its games played across various U.S. venues this summer.
Blatter’s support came via a post on X, where he directly quoted and amplified remarks made by Mark Pieth, a Swiss lawyer and anti-corruption expert.
Pieth, who previously chaired an independent governance committee tasked with reforming FIFA during Blatter’s tenure in the wake of major scandals, had given an interview to the Swiss newspaper Der Bund .
In that discussion, Pieth advised that, after weighing various concerns, fans had only one sensible recommendation: stay away from the USA entirely. He framed it as practical guidance rather than purely symbolic protest, suggesting travelers might face unpredictable risks and implying they would be fortunate to return unscathed.
Blatter echoed this sentiment by stating that he believed Mark Pieth was correct to openly question whether the United States remains a suitable host for such a major global sporting event under current circumstances.
His endorsement has added significant weight to emerging boycott discussions, particularly as it comes from a figure with deep historical ties to FIFA and the World Cup bidding and hosting processes.
The concerns raised by Pieth—and now amplified by Blatter—center on heightened security and safety issues for international visitors. These include reported incidents of immigration enforcement actions, such as the fatal shooting of protester Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis earlier this month, alongside broader worries about political tensions, potential marginalization of certain groups, and civil rights abuses under the current U.S. administration led by President Donald Trump.
Commentators have pointed to these as creating an environment that could pose real dangers to foreign fans, especially those from countries facing stricter entry scrutiny or those participating in any form of protest or expression during their stay.
While the 2026 World Cup continues to move forward with preparations by FIFA and the host nations, Blatter’s intervention has intensified debate over the tournament’s optics and practicality.
Critics of the U.S. hosting role argue that removing or reconsidering American venues would be unfortunate but potentially justified given the risks, while supporters of the event emphasize its economic and cultural benefits and the longstanding plans for North American co-hosting.
This Blatter’s comments, coming just months before the tournament kicks off, underscore a rare public critique from a former top FIFA leader questioning one of the sport’s flagship events on his home soil.