Calls for Boycott of 2026 World Cup Amid Political Tensions

Oke Gottlich, a vice-president of the German Football Association (DFB) and president of Bundesliga club St. Pauli, has advocated for discussions regarding a potential boycott of the 2026 World Cup, citing recent actions by U.S. President Donald Trump as a catalyst for concern.

The upcoming World Cup will see the United States co-hosting the event alongside Canada and Mexico. Trump’s recent threats to acquire Greenland, which is governed by Denmark, have sparked outrage among European leaders. Additionally, his assertion of imposing tariffs on several European countries, including Germany, has heightened diplomatic tensions.

Gottlich expressed his sentiments in an interview with the Hamburger Morgenpost, stating, “I really wonder when the time will be to think and talk about this [a boycott] concretely. For me, that time has definitely come.”

Although the French government has indicated it does not support a boycott at this time, the Danish Football Association has acknowledged the sensitive climate surrounding the situation. Denmark aims to qualify for the tournament through play-offs.

In his arguments for a potential boycott, Gottlich referenced the U.S.-led boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games in response to the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. He remarked, “What were the justifications for the boycotts of the Olympic Games in the 1980s? By my reckoning, the potential threat is greater now than it was then. We need to have this discussion.”

The DFB previously engaged in controversies during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, particularly regarding FIFA’s opposition to players wearing the OneLove armband to promote diversity and inclusion. In response, the captains of seven European nations were permitted to wear a No Discrimination armband, which FIFA introduced ahead of the quarter-finals. Germany’s players notably covered their mouths in protest during a team photograph, signaling that they felt silenced by FIFA’s decision.

Gottlich further expressed his discontent with the current political landscape, stating, “Qatar was too political for everyone, and now we’re completely apolitical? That’s something that really bothers me. As organizations and society, we’re forgetting how to set taboos and boundaries, and how to defend values.”

He emphasized the importance of recognizing when taboos are crossed in the face of threats or violence, questioning when Trump would reach his limit of acceptable behavior. Gottlich concluded by seeking clarity from both DFB President Bernd Neuendorf and FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding their stance on these significant issues.