ZURICH (AP) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter will not go to New Zealand for the Under-20 World Cup final Saturday.
Amid speculation Blatter risks arrest in many countries, FIFA confirmed Tuesday he will remain in his native Switzerland instead of traveling to Auckland.
"Due to his current commitments in Zurich the FIFA president will not be able to travel to New Zealand to attend the final," the governing body said in a statement.
Blatter's plans have been uncertain since seven football officials were arrested in FIFA's home city three weeks ago in an American investigation of corruption. They face extradition to the United States.
The FIFA president, who has announced plans to resign within months, is a target of the widening case, a law enforcement official has confirmed to the Associated Press.
Blatter would typically attend at least one match at the under-20 event, but he is skipping the whole tournament. Blatter saw the opening ceremony and first two matches at the 2013 tournament in Kayseri, Turkey.
FIFA said Tuesday that Blatter could yet attend the Women's World Cup final July 5 in Vancouver, Canada. Blatter and FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke have not been to Canada yet for the 24-team tournament.