‘World Cup should not be organized in a country that does not grant visas to everyone’ – Blatter blasts USA

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has intensified his criticism of the 2026 World Cup, asserting that the United States is an unfit host because its immigration policies conflict with the inclusive spirit of global football.

In a series of recent public statements, the former head of world football’s governing body argued that a host nation must be capable of welcoming all participants and spectators without discrimination, a standard he believes the U.S. currently fails to meet.

Blatter’s primary contention centers on the restrictive visa policies maintained by the U.S. government.

He warned that current entry restrictions create a discriminatory environment that prioritizes political borders over the social and cultural values of the sport.

According to Blatter, a tournament of this magnitude becomes a tool for national interests rather than a celebration for the global fan base when access is restricted based on nationality.

The former president’s remarks have sparked a broader conversation regarding the accessibility of the 2026 tournament.

With the United States set to host 78 of the 104 scheduled matches, Blatter argued that the concentration of the event in a country with rigorous vetting processes undermines the “Universal Game.”

“In this World Cup, the biggest beneficiary will be the United States, not the fans. In principle, a World Cup should not be organized in a country that does not grant visas to everyone,” he told Radio-Canada.

“There is a discriminatory policy in the United States against anything foreign — it’s simply ‘America First, America First’ — and that is sad, sad for the social and cultural value of football.

“Donald Trump is the worst thing that happened to FIFA — bringing the President of the United States into World Cup affairs is the worst thing that happened to FIFA. And there is no opposition to that.

“There is an unequal distribution of matches. Imagine: 78 out of 104 matches will be played on U.S. soil — that is not normal. When putting the three countries together, their shares should have been roughly equal. This is not in the interest of developing football.”

As the 2026 kickoff approaches, the tension between U.S. border security and the requirement for universal access remains one of the most contentious hurdles facing the world’s largest sporting event.