Former FIFA president Blatter backs calls to boycott 2026 World Cup

Growing Calls for 2026 World Cup Boycott Amid Trump Policies

Calls for boycotting this summer’s FIFA World Cup are intensifying as political tensions surrounding President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and international controversies continue to escalate. On Monday, former FIFA president Sepp Blatter endorsed calls for fans to stay away from the United States, backing Swiss lawyer Mark Pieth’s warning that fans should “avoid the USA” during the tournament.tag24

Pieth, who worked on potential reforms under Blatter’s administration, told Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger last week that the “country itself is in a state of tremendous turmoil,” citing the treatment of immigrants and domestic unrest. “For fans, just one piece of advice: avoid the United States! You’ll get a better view on television anyway,” Pieth said. Blatter responded on social media: “I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup.”cityam

European Nations Divided on Response

The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, faces growing pressure from European officials and fan groups. German Football Association vice president Oke Göttlich told the Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper that “the time has definitely come” to seriously discuss a boycott, citing concerns greater than those that prompted Olympic boycotts in the 1980s.bbc

However, France’s Football Federation president Philippe Diallo firmly rejected any withdrawal. “My principle is to ensure that sport—a realm of gathering and unity—remains distanced from political issues,” Diallo told RMC Sport on Sunday, confirming there is “no question” of France boycotting.yahoo

In the Netherlands, television personality Teun van de Keuken launched a petition that has garnered more than 130,000 signatures, urging the Dutch national team to withdraw. “We do not want our footballers to give implicit support to the violent terror strategy enacted by President Donald Trump against innocent migrants,” the petition states. The Dutch Football Association said it remains “aware of geopolitical developments” but will follow guidance from FIFA, UEFA, and the Dutch government.as

Fan Groups and Financial Concerns

England’s official LGBTQ+ supporters group, Three Lions Pride, announced earlier this month it will not have a visible presence at the tournament, citing “a dangerous rollback of human rights in the US” and fears that “trans+ family would be at high risk of violence and discrimination.”mirror

Danish Football Fan Federation board member Anja Lilli Beikes told The Telegraph that “not many” Danish fans will attend US matches due to tensions surrounding Trump’s stance on Greenland. “The US is very unpopular in Denmark at the moment,” Beikes said.sportbible

Football finance expert Dr. Rob Wilson warned that a boycott by South American nations could prove devastating. If Argentina or Brazil withdrew, other nations might follow, potentially costing FIFA around $2 billion in lost broadcasting and marketing revenue. “Boycotts of this nature would reduce the legitimacy of any competition,” Wilson told BettingLounge. “It would do untold damage for world football.”sportbible

Travel Bans and Safety Concerns

Fans from Iran, Haiti, Senegal, and Ivory Coast—all qualified nations—are currently banned from traveling to the United States due to Trump administration travel restrictions. The recent fatal shootings by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, including the death of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti on Saturday, have further heightened concerns about safety for international visitors.nytimes

Pieth warned that upon arrival, fans “should expect that if they don’t behave properly with the authorities, they will be immediately sent home.”tag24