Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter Backs World Cup 2026 Boycott, Warns Fans Against USA

Former Sepp Blatter has reignited controversy around the FIFA World Cup 2026 after openly backing calls for a fan boycott of matches hosted in the United States. Blatter urged supporters to avoid travelling to the US, citing concerns related to security, civil liberties, immigration enforcement and the overall political climate surrounding the tournament.

The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. While FIFA has promoted the expanded 48-team tournament as a landmark moment for global football, criticism around governance, accessibility and fan safety has continued to grow.

Blatter publicly supported concerns raised by Swiss anti-corruption lawyer Mark Pieth, questioning whether the United States is currently a safe and welcoming destination for international supporters. Pieth previously chaired FIFA’s Independent Governance Committee during a reform phase and remains a prominent voice on ethics in global sport.

“I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup,” Blatter wrote on social media, adding that recent developments in the US “hardly encourage fans to go there.”

Pieth, speaking to Swiss media, went further by advising fans to stay away from US-hosted matches altogether. He warned that supporters could face harsh treatment at borders, stating that travellers who fail to satisfy immigration authorities may be “put straight on the next flight home — if they’re lucky.”

The criticism has been amplified by a series of high-profile incidents involving US immigration enforcement agencies. Fatal shootings linked to enforcement operations in Minneapolis earlier this year sparked widespread protests and international scrutiny. The killing of 37-year-old Rene Nicole Good was ruled a homicide after she suffered multiple gunshot wounds during an enforcement action. Weeks later, the death of ICU nurse Alex Pretti during a separate encounter further intensified public anger and calls for accountability.

Beyond security concerns, travel restrictions have emerged as a major flashpoint. Recent US visa and travel bans have disrupted plans for football supporters across several nations. Fans from Senegal and Ivory Coast faced uncertainty after new restrictions threatened to block travel unless visas were already secured. Supporters from Iran and Haiti, both of which have qualified for the tournament, are also expected to be barred under earlier versions of the policy.

The debate has now reached football administrators as well. German Football Association vice-president Oke Göttlich recently said the idea of a World Cup boycott must be taken seriously under current circumstances, signalling growing unease within the international football establishment.

Supporters of the tournament argue that politicising the World Cup risks undermining football’s ability to unite people across borders. However, critics maintain that issues of fan safety, freedom of movement and civil rights cannot be separated from a global event of this scale.

With less than 18 months to go before kickoff, Blatter’s remarks add to mounting pressure on FIFA and host nations to address concerns around security, access and inclusivity. Whether the boycott calls gain momentum or fade remains uncertain, but the controversy has once again placed the 2026 World Cup under an intense global spotlight.