Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has advised soccer fans against traveling to the United States for the upcoming 2026 World Cup. His concerns are rooted in what he perceives as a dangerous environment due to President Donald Trump’s aggressive international policies and immigration measures.
Blatter referenced Mark Peace, an expert in anti-corruption and law professor who was involved in FIFA’s reform efforts between 2013 and 2016. Peace expressed similar sentiments in an interview with Swiss media, suggesting fans should “get out of America!”
In his own words, Blatter, now 89, tweeted on Monday, “I have only one piece of advice for our fans: Stay away from America! I think Mark Peace is right to have doubts about this World Cup.” He believes that upon arrival, fans may find themselves unwelcomed, even facing quick deportation if officials take issue with them.
The World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, is scheduled for June 11 to July 19, with all matches post-round of 16 taking place in the U.S. Notably, calls for a boycott of the tournament emerged following Trump’s controversial remarks about Greenland, which prompted comments from German soccer federation executive Oke Getrich expressing concerns about attending due to the current political climate.
“I wonder when it will be time to think about a boycott,” Göttlich said, feeling that moment has arguably arrived. Meanwhile, Trump has suggested that a new agreement regarding Greenland and NATO might relieve some tensions.
In addition, debates regarding U.S. immigration enforcement, especially following recent fatalities in Minneapolis during crackdowns, add to the apprehension. Peace emphasized that the political turmoil at home could deter fans. He also drew a comparison between the security landscape in the U.S. and that of Mexico, indicating that American society is showing signs of increasing authoritarianism.
Blatter, who was ousted from FIFA in 2015 amid a major corruption scandal, was succeeded by Gianni Infantino, who has developed a close relationship with Trump. The State Department is also planning to implement the FIFA Priority Reservation Scheduling System (FIFA PASS), which will enable ticket holders to access priority visa bookings ahead of the tournament.
This arrangement requires fans to confirm their eligibility for a visa and to show intent to leave after the event concludes. Trump had previously mentioned that efforts were underway to simplify the process for international soccer fans to travel to the U.S. for the World Cup.
Although Blatter encourages fans to reconsider attending, Infantino has expressed optimism about massive turnout, predicting that 5 to 10 million people will travel to the U.S. for the matches.
