Blatter backs World Cup boycott calls as critics target US politics and travel rules

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has backed calls for football fans to avoid travelling to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, amplifying a boycott message that has been picked up by politicians and officials in several countries as the tournament approaches. The US is due to co-host the competition with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19 2026, with matches spread across North America. Critics have pointed to US immigration enforcement, visa restrictions and the political climate under President Donald Trump as reasons for supporters to stay away, while FIFA has insisted the tournament will remain a global celebration.Swiss anti-corruption lawyer Mark Pieth, who previously worked on FIFA governance reform, told a Swiss newspaper last week: “What we are seeing domestically – the marginalisation of political opponents, abuses by immigration services, et. – hardly encourages fans to go there.” He added: “For fans, just one piece of advice: avoid the United States! You’ll get a better view on television anyway. Upon arrival, fans should expect that if they don’t behave properly with the authorities, they will be immediately sent home. If they’re lucky …” Blatter echoed Pieth in a post on social media, writing: “I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup.” The Guardian reported Pieth cited the killing of protester Renee Good by an American immigration agent in Minneapolis earlier this month as part of his concern, with the report also referencing the death of a second US citizen, Alex Pretti, last weekend. TIME said boycott arguments being circulated in Europe and elsewhere have broadened beyond domestic policing, with critics also citing the Trump administration’s foreign policy posture and wider measures including travel bans and tariffs. Al Jazeera reported that travel restrictions have become a live issue for supporters from qualified nations, saying fans from Senegal and Ivory Coast could face barriers unless they already hold visas and that Iran and Haiti would be barred under an early iteration of a US travel ban.The debate has also moved into the political arena. In the UK, Conservative MP Simon Hoare said in an address to the House of Commons that the home nations should consider boycotting the tournament in order to “embarrass” Trump, adding: “We need to fight fire with fire.” Liberal Democrat MP Luke Taylor said of Trump: “The only thing he responds to is his own pride.” In France, MP Eric Coquerel called for a boycott and suggested the competition should be moved out of the US, writing: “Seriously, can we really imagine going to play the footie World Cup in a country that attacks its ‘neighbors,’ threatens to invade Greenland, undermines international law, wants to torpedo the UN.” German football has also been drawn into the discussion. Al Jazeera and the Associated Press reported comments from Oke Göttlich, a vice-president of the German football federation and St Pauli president, who called for a serious boycott debate and said: “Qatar was too political for everyone, and now we’re completely apolitical? That’s something that really, really, really bothers me.” He added: “As organisations and society, we’re forgetting how to set taboos and boundaries, and how to defend values.” South Africa opposition leader Julius Malema urged SAFA and the national team to withdraw, saying: “Bafana Bafana must withdraw, SAFA must take a decision to withdraw from anything to do with the World Cup that is taking place in America. “We cannot sit back and allow a person to destabilise the world, and it becomes business as usual. That is an act of cowardice.” Not all officials have supported the idea. TIME reported France’s sports minister Marina Ferrari said: “There is ‘no desire for a boycott of this great competition.’” She added: “Now, I will not anticipate what could happen. I am one who believes in keeping sport separate. The World Cup is an extremely important moment for those who love sport.” FIFA president Gianni Infantino has pushed back on the boycott narrative in public remarks, arguing the World Cup’s purpose is to bring people together. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, Infantino said: “People want occasions to meet, to come together, to spend time, to celebrate. And this is what we try to give them.” He added: “People want to travel, they want to go, they want to feel the vibe of the (FIFA) World Cup, they want to be together.” Despite the political noise, travel data suggests demand remains strong. Reuters has reported flight bookings to North America surged after the match schedule was announced in December, citing travel technology firm Amadeus, while also noting safety concerns linked to immigration-related violence in Minneapolis. Travel analyst Paul Charles said: “The tournament is a chance to see the most talented football players in the world and fans will go almost anywhere to watch the finest, whatever the policies and politi