2026 World Cup: Former FIFA Boss Sepp Blatter Urges Fans to Avoid Matches in the USA
- Sepp Blatter has joined growing calls for fans to boycott the US-hosted World Cup
- Fans have been warned to avoid the United States ahead of the 2026 World Cup
- Travel bans and political concerns have raised serious doubts over the US hosting the tournament
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Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has added his voice to growing calls for supporters to boycott men’s World Cup matches staged in the United States, citing serious concerns about the conduct of President Donald Trump and his administration.
Blatter, who led world football’s governing body from 1998 until his resignation in 2015 amid corruption investigations, has become the latest high-profile figure to question whether the US is an appropriate host for the tournament.
Source: Getty Images
Fans urged to boycott games in US
Despite Blatter's own controversial legacy, his intervention has amplified an already heated debate within the global football community.
On Monday, January 26, the 89-year-old expressed his views on X, backing remarks made by Swiss lawyer and anti-corruption specialist Mark Pieth.
The former FIFA boss wrote:
''For the fans, I have only one piece of advice: stay away from the United States!», declares Mark Pieth. I think he's right to question this World Cup. #MarkPieth #GianniInfantino #DonaldTrump #FIFAWorldCup2026 #USA.''
Source: Twitter
Pieth, who chaired FIFA’s Independent Governance Committee during its reform process a decade ago, was interviewed last week by Swiss newspaper Der Bund and issued a stark warning to travelling fans, as covered by ABC.
“If we take everything into account, there is only one piece of advice for supporters: stay away from the USA,” Pieth said.
He argued that fans would be better off watching the tournament on television and warned that visitors could face harsh treatment at the border.
According to Pieth, anyone who failed to satisfy officials could be swiftly deported, “if they’re lucky”.
Meanwhile, Oke Göttlich, a vice-president of the German Football Association, has also suggested it may be time to seriously weigh up a boycott.
Speaking to Hamburger Morgenpost, he said the situation had reached a point where fans and officials could no longer ignore the political context.
Earlier this month, supporters from Senegal and the Ivory Coast saw their World Cup travel plans thrown into uncertainty after the Trump administration announced measures that would effectively prevent entry without existing visas.
Source: Getty Images
The US government cited “screening and vetting deficiencies” as justification, as DW reported.
Fans from Iran and Haiti, both qualified nations, are also set to be barred under earlier versions of the travel ban. With pressure mounting and voices growing louder, the debate over whether the United States should host football’s biggest tournament shows no sign of fading.
African teams qualified for 2026 World Cup
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that nine African nations have already booked automatic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the opening round of CAF qualifiers concluded in October 2025. Among the teams to seal early passage were Ghana’s Black Stars, alongside continental heavyweights Egypt, Senegal, Morocco and Tunisia, all of whom impressed with commanding performances.
Meanwhile, four more African countries progressed to the inter-confederation play-offs, meaning their World Cup dreams remain very much alive as the continent pushes for a strong presence at the expanded 48-team tournament.
Source: YEN.com.gh
