Published Jan 27, 2026, 3:48 PM EST
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As the U.S. is shaken by the events in Minnesota, amid other ongoing battles, many prominent figures, including ex-FIFA president Sepp Blatter, are calling for a boycott of ticket sales for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
The tournament, set to be held in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, has raised questions about the safety and suitability of the U.S. as a host nation. Besides the overall political climate, the turmoil and violence now happening in the country also give people reason for pause. Blatter has added his opinions to the matter.
The ex-FIFA president backed up a statement made by Mark Pieth in an interview with Swiss outlet Der Bund. Blatter tweeted a section of a quote by the Swiss attorney. In the statement, Pieth highlighted the dangers of travel to the United States, encouraging people to watch from home:
If we consider everything we've discussed, there's only one piece of advice for fans: Stay away from the USA! You'll see it better on TV anyway. And upon arrival, fans should expect that if they don't please the officials, they'll be put straight on the next flight home. If they're lucky [translation via AP News].
The post shared by Blatter quoted the section urging soccer (or football) fans to stay away from the U.S., reinforcing his statement. See his words below:
For people hoping to enter the U.S., there are multiple risks, not only due to the ongoing protests but also with immigration difficulties. For people in some countries, even getting a visa is now impossible under the Trump administration.
The number of countries from which travelers are banned from entering the U.S. is now at 75. The list includes Brazil, Algeria, Colombia, and many more, unable to enter due to a complete ban or visa application freeze. So, for many people around the world, even if they wanted to enter, they couldn't.
However, there are still two other countries where fans can watch the 2026 FIFA competition: Mexico and Canada. In Mexico, football is paramount, and the cost of a visit will be less than what it would be in the U.S. Canada will also host many of the games, and has a much more open-door policy towards visitors, as well as when it comes to immigration.
Anyone hoping to watch some of the World Cup games has several options, and if they can't make it out to see a game in person, they can always heed the ex-FIFA president's advice and watch from home.
English (US) ·