Ex-FIFA president tells followers keep away from 2026 World Cup over Trump insurance policies

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Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter says soccer followers ought to keep away from touring to the United States for the 2026 World Cup this summer time.

Blatter’s reasoning? His perception that President Donald Trump ’s worldwide aggression and immigration crackdown throughout the nation makes it harmful for followers touring abroad.

Blatter cited Mark Pieth, an anti-corruption skilled and regulation professor who oversaw the Unbiased Governance Committee throughout FIFA’s reform from 2013-16. Pieth spoke with Swiss outlet Der Bund , the place he instructed soccer followers to, "Steer clear of the USA!"

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FIFA President Sepp Blatter gestures throughout a press convention on the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland on March 30, 2012. (AP Photograph/Anja Niedringhaus)

"For the followers, there’s just one piece of recommendation: steer clear of the USA!" I believe Mark Pieth is true to query this World Cup," Blatter, 89, tweeted on Monday.

Pieth added in his interview: "You’ll see it higher on TV anyway. And upon arrival, followers ought to anticipate that in the event that they don’t please the officers, they’ll be put straight on the following flight house. In the event that they’re fortunate."

The US is ready to co-host this yr’s World Cup, as Mexico and Canada would be the website for video games within the match that spans from June 11-July 19. Nevertheless, after the Spherical of 16, all remaining matches shall be held within the U.S.

Trump’s stance towards Greenland has led to a name to boycott the World Cup this summer time by German soccer federation government Oke Göttlich.

"I actually surprise when the time shall be to suppose and discuss this concretely," Göttlich instructed Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper a couple of potential boycott. "For me, that point has undoubtedly come."

Trump mentioned not too long ago {that a} "framework of a future deal" with NATO involving Greenland and the Arctic area has been mentioned, which may ease stress in that regard.

From left; FIFA President Gianni Infantino takes a selfie with President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney through the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup on the Kennedy Heart in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Chris Carlson/AP Photograph)

"Primarily based upon a really productive assembly that I've had with the Secretary Basic of NATO, Mark Rutte, now we have fashioned the framework of a future cope with respect to Greenland and, actually, the complete Arctic Area," Trump wrote on Truth Social .

There's additionally the criticism of ICE brokers in U.S. cities, particularly Minneapolis, Minnesota, following the deaths of two U.S. residents as immigration crackdowns proceed.

Pieth mentioned that issue as properly in his interview.

"The nation itself is in a state of super turmoil," he mentioned. "What we’re witnessing domestically — the marginalization of political opponents, the abuses by immigration authorities, and so forth — doesn’t precisely entice a fan to journey there.

Pieth likened the States’ "safety scenario" to Mexico, the place drug cartels threaten violence forward of matches in Guadalajara, Mexico Metropolis and Monterrey. Pieth believes the U.S. has change into "more and more authoritarian."

U.S. President Donald Trump receives the FIFA Peace Prize from Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, through the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at John F. Kennedy Heart for the Performing Arts on Dec. 5, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Emilee Chinn/FIFA by way of Getty Photos)

It’s value noting Blatter was pressured out of his put up as FIFA president in 2015 following one of many largest corruption scandals within the sport involving wire fraud, racketeering and cash laundering.

Gianni Infantino took over Blatter’s function, and he has had a powerful friendship with Trump.

The State Division additionally instructed Fox Information Digital solely that it'll launch the FIFA Precedence Appointment Schedule System, or FIFA PASS, which can give World Cupp ticket holders the chance to entry prioritized visa appointments earlier than the match begins on June 11.

Potential visa holders should be capable of present that they qualify to obtain a visa and plan to comply with the legal guidelines in the USA in addition to depart the nation as soon as the match is over on July 19.

Trump spoke in regards to the FIFA Go in November, saying the Departments of State and Homeland Safety had been working "tirelessly" to "be sure that soccer followers from all around the globe are correctly vetted and capable of come to the USA subsequent summer time simply."

On this Sept. 1, 2020 file photograph, former FIFA President Sepp Blatter, middle, seems in entrance of the constructing of the Workplace of the Legal professional Basic of Switzerland, in Bern, Switzerland. Former FIFA president Blatter spent every week in an induced coma after having coronary heart surgical procedure in December, his household mentioned on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. (Peter Schneider/Keystone)

"I’ve directed my administration to do all the pieces throughout the energy to make the 2026 World Cup an unprecedented success. I believe it’s going to be the best, and we're setting data on ticket gross sales," Trump mentioned on the time.

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Infantino mentioned the group anticipated "between 5 and 10 million individuals coming to America from… everywhere in the world to benefit from the World Cup."