In his message, Blatter, who is 89 years old, noted on platform X: "My only advice for fans is to stay away from the USA." He also supported the opinion of Swiss anti-corruption expert Mark Pieth, who previously warned about potential strict checks at the border and abuse by American border guards. "I believe that Mark Pieth is absolutely right to raise questions about this championship," Blatter added with the hashtag #DonaldTrump.
In an interview published in the Swiss publication Tagesanzeiger, Pieth emphasized that he has only one piece of advice for fans — "stay away from the USA." He noted that at the tournament, spectators might face the risk of immediate return home if they are not accepted at the border. "It's best to watch the matches on television," he added.
Discussion of Possible Boycott of the World Cup
In Germany, discussions are also underway regarding the upcoming World Cup, prompted by the strict measures of American authorities towards migrants. Fans are concerned about safety issues and the political situation in the USA. The Vice President of the German Football Association (DFB) and President of the FC St. Pauli club, Oke Göttlich, raised the issue of a possible boycott of the tournament due to Trump's policies.
However, DFB President Bernd Neuendorf believes that discussions about a boycott are currently inappropriate, although he agreed that the DFB board will discuss the matter. He characterized Trump's policies as "difficult to assess unequivocally" and emphasized that such issues should be resolved by politicians. When asked for advice for fans, Neuendorf replied that everyone should make their own decision based on safety recommendations.
At the same time, the German government strongly advises its citizens planning trips to the USA to exercise increased caution. Concerns are heightened amid Trump's sharp rhetoric regarding Greenland, new tariff threats against Canada, and reports of increased brutality from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has also led to fatalities. Calls are beginning to emerge in German political circles to consider a boycott of the championship.
