German Football Federation Rules Out World Cup Boycott Amid Tensions with US President Trump.
The German football federation has shot down plans to boycott the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States. This decision comes as tensions between Germany and the US have escalated under President Donald Trump, who has sparked controversy with his takeover bid for Greenland and recent actions in Venezuela.
In response to these actions, DFB Vice President Oke Gottlich had called for a boycott of the tournament, citing the need to "seriously consider" such a move. However, the federation's executive committee rejected this idea, stating that their focus should be on strengthening the unifying power of sport and promoting unity rather than preventing it.
The decision was made in response to concerns raised by Gottlich, who is also the president of Bundesliga club St Pauli. The DFB said it will instead engage in dialogue with representatives from politics, security, business, and sports as part of preparations for the tournament.
This move may be seen as a public rebuke to Gottlich's calls for a boycott, with the federation opting not to publicly air its grievances against Trump through such an action. Instead, the DFB has focused on reaffirming its commitment to promoting unity and celebrating sport as a global force for good.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to take place in June and July, with Germany's national team among those looking forward to competing in the tournament. Despite concerns about high ticket prices and travel bans imposed by the Trump administration, which could prohibit supporters from some countries from attending, the DFB has stated its intention to compete fairly against other qualified teams and promote a peaceful festival of football for fans worldwide.
The German football federation has shot down plans to boycott the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States. This decision comes as tensions between Germany and the US have escalated under President Donald Trump, who has sparked controversy with his takeover bid for Greenland and recent actions in Venezuela.
In response to these actions, DFB Vice President Oke Gottlich had called for a boycott of the tournament, citing the need to "seriously consider" such a move. However, the federation's executive committee rejected this idea, stating that their focus should be on strengthening the unifying power of sport and promoting unity rather than preventing it.
The decision was made in response to concerns raised by Gottlich, who is also the president of Bundesliga club St Pauli. The DFB said it will instead engage in dialogue with representatives from politics, security, business, and sports as part of preparations for the tournament.
This move may be seen as a public rebuke to Gottlich's calls for a boycott, with the federation opting not to publicly air its grievances against Trump through such an action. Instead, the DFB has focused on reaffirming its commitment to promoting unity and celebrating sport as a global force for good.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to take place in June and July, with Germany's national team among those looking forward to competing in the tournament. Despite concerns about high ticket prices and travel bans imposed by the Trump administration, which could prohibit supporters from some countries from attending, the DFB has stated its intention to compete fairly against other qualified teams and promote a peaceful festival of football for fans worldwide.