In his message on the social network X, 89-year-old Blatter advised fans: “Stay away from the USA.” He also expressed support for Swiss anti-corruption expert Mark Pieth, who had previously warned of the possibility of strict border checks and abuse by border officials. “I agree with Mark Pieth, who raises important questions about the upcoming World Championship,” added the former FIFA president, using the hashtag #DonaldTrump.
Recently, in an interview with the Swiss publication Tagesanzeiger, Pieth also urged fans to avoid traveling to the USA, noting that “everything looks much better on television.” He warned that if fans do not please the officials, they could be put on the next flight back immediately. “If you’re lucky,” he added.
Discussions around the boycott of the 2026 World Cup
Meanwhile, in Germany, there is also active discussion about the possibility of boycotting the championship due to the harsh policies of the American authorities regarding migrants. The Vice President of the German Football Association (DFB) and President of the St. Pauli club, Oke Göttlich, raised the issue of a boycott, citing security concerns and the political situation in the USA.
Bernd Neuendorf, the president of the DFB, expressed the opinion that discussions about a boycott are currently inappropriate, but added that the DFB board will discuss the issue. He characterized Trump’s policies as “difficult to assess unequivocally” and emphasized that decisions on this matter should be made by political figures. Neuendorf stated that each fan should decide for themselves whether to attend the tournament based on safety recommendations.
In response to the current situation, the German government has advised its citizens planning to travel to the USA to be especially cautious. Concerns have heightened amid Trump’s tough rhetoric regarding Greenland, new tariff threats against Canada, and reports of increased actions by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including cases resulting in fatalities. Calls have already begun to emerge in political circles in Germany to consider the possibility of boycotting the championship.
