Intro: Concerns grow over travel bans, immigration policies, political climate ahead tournament
Washington
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has added his voice to growing international calls for a boycott of World Cup matches scheduled to be held in the United States, questioning the country’s suitability as a host under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Blatter, who led world football’s governing body from 1998 to 2015, expressed his support for a proposed fan boycott in a post on X. He endorsed remarks made by Swiss anti-corruption expert Mark Pieth, who last week urged supporters to avoid travelling to the United States for the tournament.
“I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup,” Blatter wrote, quoting Pieth’s comments. Pieth, a white-collar crime specialist, chaired FIFA’s Independent Governance Committee during reform efforts a decade ago.
Pieth advised fans to stay away, warning that visitors could face harsh treatment by US authorities. “If they don’t please the officials, they’ll be put straight on the next flight home,” Pieth said, adding that fans would be better off watching the tournament on television.
The United States is set to co-host the World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. However, concerns within the international football community have intensified due to the Trump administration’s domestic and foreign policies, including strict immigration enforcement, aggressive handling of protests, and an expansionist posture on issues such as Greenland.
Recent travel bans have further fuelled criticism. Earlier this month, the US announced restrictions that would effectively prevent fans from Senegal and Ivory Coast from travelling to follow their teams unless they already hold valid visas. The administration cited “screening and vetting deficiencies” as the reason. Supporters from Iran and Haiti, both World Cup qualifiers, are also barred under earlier iterations of the ban.
Oke Göttlich, a vice-president of the German Football Association, told last week that the time had come to seriously consider a boycott.
Blatter’s intervention is significant, given his long association with FIFA, despite his resignation in 2015 amid corruption investigations. His comments add weight to a debate that could intensify as the tournament draws closer, potentially overshadowing preparations for one of football’s showpiece events.