Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter Backs World Cup Boycott Over U.S. Conduct
Blatter endorsed Mark Pieth’s call for fans to avoid the U.S.-hosted World Cup, citing immigration policies and recent killings.
Overview
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter posted on X on Monday that he agreed with Mark Pieth’s statement urging fans to "stay away from the USA" for the World Cup, according to his post.
Pieth, a Swiss attorney and former chair of FIFA’s Independent Governance Committee, told Der Bund last week that fans should avoid the U.S. World Cup citing killings and immigration enforcement actions, according to the interview.
The United States will co-host the World Cup with Canada and Mexico from June 11-July 19, a tournament expected to draw millions of fans and international attention.
Oke Göttlich, a vice president of the German Football Association, and other international figures have raised boycott calls, while FIFA did not immediately respond to requests for comment, officials said.
Organizers and national federations have not announced any changes, and potential boycotts could affect travel plans after U.S. travel bans that bar fans from Senegal, Ivory Coast, Iran and Haiti, according to administration announcements.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this coverage around international criticism of U.S. suitability as World Cup host, emphasizing Trump's immigration and foreign-policy actions. They foreground critical voices (Blatter, Pieth, Göttlich), use evaluative terms and selective quote placement to amplify concerns, and largely omit U.S. official responses or counterarguments, shaping a cautionary narrative.
Sources (6)
FAQ
Mark Pieth is a Swiss anti-corruption lawyer and former chair of FIFA’s Independent Governance Committee. He urged fans to avoid the U.S. for the 2026 World Cup, citing abuses by immigration services, marginalization of political opponents, and risks of being sent home if not behaving properly with authorities.[1]
The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, with 78 games across 11 U.S. cities.[1]
Boycott calls cite U.S. immigration abuses, recent killings, immigration enforcement actions, and travel bans affecting fans from countries like Senegal, Ivory Coast, Iran, and Haiti.[1]
FIFA did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and organizers and national federations have not announced any changes.[1]
History
3 sources