FIFA President Blatter Calls for World Cup Boycott Over US Administration Policies

US to Co-host World Cup with Canada and Mexico; International Football Figures Call for Boycott

The United States will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. Former FIFA chief Sepp Blatter has expressed support for a proposed fan boycott of the tournament due to concerns over President Donald Trump’s conduct at home and abroad.

Blatter, who served as president of FIFA from 1998 to 2015, stated that he believes Mark Pieth, a Swiss lawyer specializing in white-collar crime and anticorruption expert, is right to question the suitability of the US as a host country. Pieth has called on football fans to stay away from the US, citing concerns over Trump’s expansionist posture, travel bans, and aggressive tactics in dealing with migrants.

The international community has expressed similar sentiments about the US as the World Cup cohost. Oke Gottlich, vice president of the German football federation, has stated that the time has come to “seriously consider” boycotting the World Cup due to concerns over Trump’s policies. Gottlich cited the potential threat posed by Trump’s actions and called for a discussion on defending values.

Other international football figures have also expressed concerns about the US as a host country. The German federation, in particular, has been critical of the 2022 World Cup host, Qatar, citing concerns over politics and values. However, it remains to be seen how these concerns will impact the 2026 World Cup.

The boycott calls come amid controversy surrounding Trump’s policies, including his expansionist posture on Greenland, travel bans, and aggressive tactics in dealing with migrants. The US government has announced a ban that would effectively bar people from Senegal and the Ivory Coast from following their teams unless they already have visas.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and German federation chief Bernd Neuendorf have yet to comment on the boycott calls.

Source: Al Jazeera