A senior official of the German Football Association (DFB) has said serious discussions should now begin over a potential boycott of the 2026 World Cup following recent actions by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The tournament is set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with 78 of the 104 matches scheduled to take place in the US.
Relations between the United States and several European countries have become strained after President Trump threatened to acquire Greenland, a territory controlled by Denmark. He also warned of imposing tariffs on eight European nations, including Germany, that opposed the move. Although Trump later withdrew the tariff threat, tensions have persisted.
According to BBC Sport, DFB vice-president Oke Göttlich said on Saturday that the time had come to openly consider the idea of a boycott. “I really wonder when the moment will be to think and talk about this concretely,” he said. “For me, that time has definitely come.”
The French government has stated that it does not currently support a boycott, while the Danish Football Association said it is “aware of the current sensitive situation.” Denmark are aiming to qualify for the tournament through the play-offs.
Göttlich, who is also president of Bundesliga club St Pauli, compared the situation to the US-led boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. “What were the justifications for the Olympic boycotts in the 1980s?” he asked. “In my view, the potential threat is greater now than it was then. This discussion is necessary.”
Germany has previously clashed with FIFA over political expression at major tournaments. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, FIFA warned players they could be booked for wearing the OneLove armband, which promoted diversity and inclusion.
In response, German players covered their mouths during the team photo before their opening match against Japan, a gesture then-coach Hansi Flick said symbolised FIFA “silencing” teams.
Reflecting on that incident, Göttlich questioned football’s current approach to political issues. “Qatar was considered too political by everyone, and now we’re suddenly completely apolitical?” he said. “That troubles me deeply. As organisations and as a society, we are forgetting how to set boundaries and defend our values.”
He added that greater clarity is needed on where those boundaries lie, both from political leaders and from football’s governing bodies, including the DFB and FIFA.
