The US will join neighbors Mexico and Canada in hosting the global finals this summer, but security concerns are mounting following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti after interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Blatter, 89, echoes the sentiments of lawyer Mark Pieth, who told Switzerland’s Tages-Anzeiger: “What we see at home – the marginalization of political opponents, abuse by immigration authorities, etc. – hardly encourages fans to go there.”
‘For fans: one piece of advice: avoid the United States! You get a better view on television anyway. Upon arrival, fans can expect that if they do not behave properly towards the authorities, they will be sent home immediately. If they’re lucky,” he said.
Blatter took to his social media channels to endorse the comments: “I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup.”
The 2026 World Cup final has faced increasing criticism – from exorbitant ticket prices to the demands on host cities, but most importantly Infantino’s close relationship with US President Donald Trump – to the point of condoning the administration’s divisive policies – has sparked a backlash.
Ten years ago, Infantino came to power after a US Justice Department investigation into FIFA corruption led to Blatter’s downfall. “We will restore the image of FIFA and the respect of FIFA. And everyone in the world will cheer us,” Infantino said at the time.
In 2015, Blatter resigned as FIFA president due to the FIFAGate scandal. Last year, he and former UEFA chief Michel Platini were acquitted of charges related to a two million Swiss franc ‘consultancy’ payment FIFA made to Platini in 2011.
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