Germany rule out World Cup boycott despite calls to send Trump a message | World Cup 2026
Germany’s football federation, the DFB, has ruled out a boycott of the World Cup despite calls to send a message to Donald Trump. “We believe in the unifying power of sport and the global impact that a FIFA World Cup can have,” the DFB said. “Our goal is to strengthen this positive force – not prevent it. »
The federation said its executive committee had met and discussed the option of a boycott of this summer’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, a consideration first proposed last week by DFB vice president Oke Göttlich.
Göttlich, who is also president of Bundesliga club St Pauli, addressed Trump’s recent actions and statements and said it was time to “seriously consider” a boycott. However, in what appears to be a public rebuke of Göttlich, the DFB said that “debates on sports policy should be conducted internally and not in public.”
The DFB said a boycott “is currently not being considered. The DFB is in contact with representatives from politics, security, business and sport in preparation for the tournament.”
Trump has sowed discord in Europe with his takeover bid for Greenland and his threats to impose tariffs on European countries that opposed it, while US actions in Venezuela and at home in the face of protests in US cities have also caused concern. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter last week advised fans to stay away from the tournament, which begins on June 11.
Germany is worried about Trump’s behavior on the international stage. Germany international and Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka said Wednesday that Trump’s actions made him feel “not only German but also European.
The French government has decided to boycott the World Cup, with Sports Minister Marina Ferrari saying on Wednesday: “In the current state of affairs, there is no desire from the ministry to boycott this major competition. Now, I do not anticipate what could happen, but I have also heard voices raised from certain political blocs.”
“I am one of those who believe that sport should be kept separate [from politics]. The World Cup is an extremely important time for those who love sport.
Fans were already concerned about high ticket prices, while travel bans imposed by the Trump administration could also bar fans from some competing countries from attending.
The German team, at least, will be there. “We want to compete fairly with other qualified teams next summer,” the DFB said. “And we want fans around the world to celebrate a peaceful celebration of football in stadiums and fan zones – just like we experienced during the 2024 European Championship in our own country.”
Germany faces Curaçao in Houston, Ivory Coast in Toronto and Ecuador in New Jersey in the World Cup group stage. Germany has won the trophy four times, in 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014.
