Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has launched a scathing attack on football’s governing body beyond 2026 FIFA World Cupclaiming that the tournament has “lost its credibility” and urging fans, players and national associations to reclaim the sport from political influence.Blatter’s strongly worded message came just two days after Spain beat defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time to claim their second World Cup title, bringing the first ever 48-team World Cup to a close.While recognizing Spain as deserving champions, the 90-year-old Swiss did not hold back in his assessment of the tournament’s wider legacy.Brought to X, Blatter wrote: “The longest World Cup has ended – with the right champions. But towards the final whistle, the tournament lost credibility. “Politics should not be allowed to overshadow the game.”He concluded with a very strong appeal aimed at football stakeholders.“It is now up to the fans, players and national associations to reclaim football and return it to its roots under new leadership,” he added.The post also tagged FIFA, the World Cup, the controversial FIFA halftime show, Donald Trump and current FIFA president Gianni Infantino, outlining who Blatter believes will be at the center of the debate.
Politics and controversy dominated the tournament discussion
Blatter has been one of the most vocal critics of FIFA’s direction under Infantino, and his latest comments reflect a growing scrutiny of the intersection of football and politics during the expanded tournament.The 2026 edition, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is the largest in the history of the World Cup, with 48 teams, 104 games in 16 places in more than a month.Although the football itself received widespread praise, several off-field controversies dominated the headlines throughout the tournament.Political tensions surrounding the participation of Iran, visa disputes, travel restrictions affecting supporters from many countries, debates about immigration policies, concerns about the extreme heat of the summer and criticism of the growing commercialization of FIFA all fueled the discussion during the competition.The relationship between US President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino has also come under intense scrutiny, especially after Balogun’s suspension was lifted ahead of the Round of 16 clash with the United States.
Infantino celebrated the success despite the criticism
Despite the criticism, FIFA described the tournament as one of the most successful in history.Infantino highlighted the record attendance of nearly seven million spectators, while it is estimated that more than six billion viewers watched the tournament worldwide.Television viewership also remains strong. Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo reported that the Spain-Argentina final attracted a preliminary audience of 22.6 million, putting it on course to become the most-watched World Cup final in Spanish-language television history.Attendance across the United States, Canada and Mexico also exceeded expectations despite concerns over ticket prices and logistics.On the field, the expanded 48-team format has largely silenced fears that competition will be diluted. Surprise packages such as Cape Verde and Congo enjoyed memorable campaigns before the tournament finally delivered heavyweight semi-finals featuring Spain, Argentina, France and England.