Sepp Blatter Backs Calls for Boycott of Men’s World Cup Matches in the United States

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has joined calls for a fan boycott of men’s World Cup matches in the United States, citing serious concerns over the conduct of President Donald Trump and his administration both domestically and internationally.

Blatter is the latest prominent figure in world football to question the suitability of the United States as a host nation for the tournament, which it will stage alongside Canada and Mexico. The former FIFA chief voiced his support in a post on X, endorsing remarks made by Swiss lawyer and anti-corruption expert Mark Pieth in a recent interview with the newspaper Der Bund.

Pieth, who chaired FIFA’s Independent Governance Committee during the organisation’s reform process a decade ago, was forthright in his criticism.

“If we consider everything we’ve discussed, there’s only one piece of advice for fans: stay away from the USA,” Pieth said.
“You’ll see it better on television anyway. And upon arrival, fans should expect that if they don’t please officials, they could be put straight on the next flight home — if they’re lucky.”

Quoting Pieth’s comments, Blatter added: “I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup.”

Blatter served as FIFA president from 1998 until 2015, resigning amid a wide-ranging corruption investigation that later reshaped the organisation’s leadership and governance.

The men’s World Cup is scheduled to take place from 11 June to 19 July, with matches hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Growing Concerns Over US Policies

Unease within the international football community has been driven by a number of policies and actions associated with the Trump administration, including an expansionist stance on Greenland, travel restrictions, and aggressive immigration enforcement measures, as well as responses to protests in several American cities.

Oke Göttlich, a vice-president of the German Football Association, told the Hamburger Morgenpost on Friday that the time had come to seriously consider a boycott of the tournament.

Recent travel restrictions have already caused significant disruption. Two weeks ago, supporters from Senegal and Ivory Coast — both major footballing nations in Africa — were thrown into uncertainty after the US government announced a ban that would prevent their citizens from travelling to the World Cup unless they already hold valid visas.

The Trump administration cited “screening and vetting deficiencies” as the justification for the measures.

Fans from Iran and Haiti, both of whom have also qualified for the tournament, will likewise be barred from entering the United States, having been included in an earlier version of the travel ban announced by the administration.

As concerns mount, questions continue to be raised about the inclusivity, accessibility and overall suitability of the United States as a World Cup host, with calls for protest and boycott gaining traction across sections of the global football community.