Former FIFA chief Blatter claims 2026 World Cup has been tarnished despite worthy winners

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has expressed his discontent with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, stating that the month-long tournament has compromised its credibility, and is now calling on stakeholders to take back the sport from political interference.

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Blatter took to his X account on Tuesday to convey his thoughts, asserting that Spain was deserving of the 2026 World Cup title, while also emphasizing the need to prevent politics from overshadowing the game.

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According to Blatter, the tournament's loss of credibility was evident by the time the final whistle blew, despite the fact that the correct champions had emerged victorious, as he wrote, "The longest World Cup has come to an end – with the right champions."

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Blatter further emphasized that the influence of politics must not be allowed to dominate the sport, and it is now up to the fans, players, and national associations to reclaim football and restore it to its roots under new leadership, as he stated, "Politics must not be allowed to overshadow the game."

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Blatter's comments come in the wake of several controversies that marred the expanded 48-team tournament, which was held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with one of the major issues involving Iran, who were compelled to base themselves outside the United States due to diplomatic tensions between Tehran and Washington.

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The Iranian team trained and camped in neighboring Mexico before traveling for matches, which raised questions about competitive fairness and tournament logistics, adding to the controversy surrounding the tournament.

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The tournament also sparked a debate over the eligibility of United States striker Folarin Balogun, who was initially handed a red card before FIFA's Appeal Committee overturned the suspension ahead of the US round of 16 game against Belgium.

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The decision to overturn the suspension fueled widespread speculation, particularly after reports emerged that US President Donald Trump had discussed the matter with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, prompting Trump to write on his Truth Social platform, "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!".

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Blatter was among the most vocal critics of the decision at the time, stating on X on July 6, "Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies."

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Blatter questioned the integrity of the decision, asking, "If a U.S. President intervenes with the FIFA President — and a player is suddenly cleared before a World Cup knockout match — the question is unavoidable: Quo vadis, FIFA?", and emphasizing that football must never become a playground for political power.

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Blatter, who served as FIFA president from 1998 to 2015, was forced to leave office after being banned from football over a payment made to former UEFA president Michel Platini, although both men were later acquitted by Swiss courts over the payment.

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Despite his departure from FIFA, Blatter has remained an outspoken critic of the organization's leadership under Gianni Infantino, continuing to voice his concerns about the influence of politics in the sport.