‘Right champions, but 2026 World Cup lost credibility’ — Ex-FIFA president Blatter
By Ayobami Okerinde Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has criticised the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying the month-long tournament “lost its credibility”, urging football stakeholders to reclaim the game from political influence.
The tournament also sparked 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, a decision that fuelled widespread speculation after reports that US President Donald Trump had discussed the matter with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
In a post on his X account on Tuesday, Blatter said Spain deserved to win the 2026 World Cup but insisted that politics must not be allowed to overshadow the game.
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