Blatter urges FIFA World Cup boycott over Trump administration policies

Al JazeeraCenterEN 5 min read 100% complete by Al Jazeera StaffJanuary 27, 2026 at 11:43 AM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has endorsed a proposed fan boycott of the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in the United States, citing concerns over President Donald Trump's policies. The boycott call, initially proposed by Swiss lawyer Mark Pieth, suggests fans stay away from the US due to potential issues with officials and immigration enforcement. Blatter, who headed FIFA from 1998 to 2015, voiced his support on X, echoing Pieth's concerns about the suitability of the US as a host country. The US is co-hosting the World Cup with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. The concerns stem from Trump's policies on immigration, travel, and international relations.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Israel 30% Norway 30% Gianni Infantino 30% Switzerland 40% Mexico ×260% Canada ×260% Mark Pieth ×460% World Cup 2026 ×370% United States ×580% FIFA ×480% Donald Trump ×590% Sepp Blatter ×490%

Keywords

fifa world cup 100% boycott 90% donald trump 80% us 70% sepp blatter 70% trump administration policies 60% cohosting 50% football fans 50% immigration enforcement 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.40

Source Transparency

Source

Al Jazeera

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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fifa world cup boycott donald trump us sepp blatter trump administration policies cohosting football fans immigration enforcement

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