As FIFA President Gianni Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump promise that the 2026 World Cup will be a party, the shadow of a boycott is lengthening over the U.S. venue.
In Europe, rejection is growing, driven by Washington’s aggressive immigration policy, while within the United States, sectors of the Democratic Party dismiss as hypocritical the organization of a global event in a climate of growing hostility.
Blatter calls for avoidance of U.S. on the road to the World Cup
Former FIFA president Joseph Blatter was one of the latest to join the campaign to boycott the 2026 World Cup.
He suggested this week at X to fans to stay “away from the United States.”
His words came in the midst of an intensification of the U.S. government’s immigration policy.
In addition to having led to the arrest and deportation of thousands of people in the last year, it resulted in the deaths of two citizens shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in immigration raids.
Days earlier, German Football Association (DFB) vice-president Oke Gottlich had joined the criticism against the 2026 World Cup.
He argued that “the life of one professional player is not worth more than the lives of countless people”.
However, German federation president Bernd Neuendorf later dismissed the idea of a boycott of the tournament.
He called his compatriot’s statements “wrong”.
Contradictory positions in the U.S.
Calls for a boycott by foreign fans are not as evident within the United States.
This given the economic impact that the 2026 World Cup, also hosted by Canada and Mexico, would have.
But some members of the Democratic Party have criticized the Administration’s approach.
California governor and staunch Trump opponent, Democrat Gavin Newsom, has lamented that the president’s “chaotic and cruel” policies are causing the world to want to boycott the US.
While the Democratic senator for Maryland, Chris Van Hollen, has highlighted the contradiction of the U.S. Administration with the 2026 World Cup.
“The Cup is supposed to be a time when the world comes together, puts aside differences to celebrate sport.”
“And while it symbolizes world unity, we have a U.S. president who is trying to exclude the world, the people,” he said last December.
On the contrary, the Republican Party highlights the role of the 2026 World Cup as an engine for the country’s economic growth.
And they deny that tight security will worsen the fan experience.
Pochettino dissociates himself from political debate
In Europe, opposition is growing
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“We will demonstrate to the world that we can maintain the strictest national security and immigration control.”
“At the same time we offer world-class sporting hospitality,” World Cup Task Force director Andrew Giulani said Jan. 21 from the White House.
On the soccer front, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino avoided taking a position when asked at a press conference on Thursday about extra-sporting issues linked to the World Cup.
He assured that his players and coaching staff “are not politicians”.
The coach avoided offering an assessment of the rising ticket prices for World Cup matches, which have been another source of complaints from fans.
The cheapest for the final exceeds $4,000.
The U.S. will host 78 of the 104 matches of the World Cup, which will be played from June 11 to July 19.
The final will take place at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey.
With information from EFE
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