A senior official of the German Football Association (DFB) has called on European football authorities to openly discuss the possibility of boycotting the 2026 FIFA World Cup in response to recent actions and statements by United States President Donald Trump.
The tournament is scheduled to take place this summer across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the US hosting the majority of the fixtures. Out of the 104 matches planned, 78 are set to be played on American soil.
Diplomatic tensions have intensified between Washington and several European capitals following comments by President Trump suggesting a possible takeover of Greenland, an autonomous territory under Danish control. The remarks triggered widespread backlash in Europe, particularly in Denmark.
Relations further deteriorated when the 79-year-old president threatened to impose tariffs on eight European countries, including Germany, after they opposed his position. Although Trump later softened his stance on the proposed tariffs, strains in diplomatic ties persist.
Vice-president of the German FA and president of Bundesliga club St Pauli, Oke Göttlich, said the situation warrants serious reflection within the football community.
“I really ask myself when the time will come to seriously think about and discuss this [a boycott],” Göttlich told Hamburger Morgenpost. “For me, that time has definitely arrived.”
His comments have sparked varied reactions across Europe. The French government said it does not currently support the idea of a boycott, while the Danish Football Association acknowledged that it is “aware of the sensitive situation.” Denmark is expected to seek qualification for the tournament through the play-offs.
Göttlich referenced historical precedent, recalling the US-led boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
“What were the reasons given for the Olympic boycotts in the 1980s?” he asked. “From my perspective, the potential threat today is even greater. This is a conversation we must have.”
The German FA has previously clashed with FIFA over political expression in football. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Germany and six other European nations planned for their captains to wear the OneLove armband in support of diversity and inclusion.
FIFA intervened shortly before the tournament, warning that players would be booked for wearing the armband. Instead, the governing body introduced its own No Discrimination campaign, allowing captains to wear a FIFA-approved armband.
In protest, German players covered their mouths during the team photo ahead of their opening match against Japan. Head coach Hansi Flick later explained the gesture was meant to show that FIFA was “silencing” teams.
“Banning the armband is the same as taking away our voice. We stand by our position,” the DFB said at the time.
Göttlich argued that football bodies cannot selectively decide when to take moral positions.
“Qatar was considered too political, and now we are suddenly completely apolitical? That really troubles me,” he said.
“As organisations and as a society, we’re losing the ability to set boundaries and defend our values. Taboos matter. Is a line crossed when someone threatens? When someone attacks? When lives are lost?
“I would like to know where Donald Trump draws his line, and I would also like to know where [DFB president] Bernd Neuendorf and [FIFA president] Gianni Infantino stand.”