By our reporter 13.6.2026
Former FIFA president Joseph Sepp Blatter has raised issues with the USA’s unfriendly gestures in their hosting of the 2026 World Cup.
The USA, Canada and Mexico are hosting the first 48 team tournament with most of the games to be decided in the cities across the US. However, several high profile US denial of visas to the fans and officials of countries who have qualified for the World Cup has raised dust.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been criticised for not standing up to President Donald Trump whose hardline immigration policy affecting mostly Africans has taken the shine out of the festival of football.
Writing on his X social media platform on Saturday Blatter remarked: “A FIFA World Cup host country must guarantee two fundamental principles: the safety of the country — and the unrestricted entry of all qualified teams, officials and referees. The case of referee Omar Artan from Somalia is against one of these obligations.
“FIFA must never compromise the universality of football. #Fifa #Somalia #GianniInfantino #CAF #OmarAtan #DonaldTrump.”
Former FIFA president Joseph Sepp Blatter has raised issues with the USA’s unfriendly gestures in their hosting of the 2026 World Cup.
The USA, Canada and Mexico are hosting the first 48 team tournament with most of the games to be decided in the cities across the US. However, several high profile US denial of visas to the fans and officials of countries who have qualified for the World Cup has raised dust.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been criticised for not standing up to President Donald Trump whose hardline immigration policy affecting mostly Africans has taken the shine out of the festival of football.
Writing on his X social media platform on Saturday Blatter remarked: “A FIFA World Cup host country must guarantee two fundamental principles: the safety of the country — and the unrestricted entry of all qualified teams, officials and referees. The case of referee Omar Artan from Somalia is against one of these obligations.
“FIFA must never compromise the universality of football. #Fifa #Somalia #GianniInfantino #CAF #OmarAtan #DonaldTrump.”