German Federation Considers Boycotting 2026 World Cup because of Trump

Germany has the possibility of boycotting the 2026 World Cup (DFB doc).

JAKARTA - A member of the Executive Committee of the German Football Federation (DFB) said it was time to consider boycotting the 2026 World Cup because of the actions of US President Donald Trump.

Oke Gottlich, President of St. Pauli and one of the 10 Vice Presidents of the DFB, told the newspaper Hamburger Morgenpost in an interview on Friday, January 23, 2026, local time, that it was time to consider and discuss this seriously.

Trump has sown discord in Europe with his efforts to take over Greenland - a semi-autonomous territory of NATO member Denmark - and his threats to impose tariffs on eight European countries that oppose the takeover.

This has led many of the United States' closest allies to warn of a rift with Washington that could destroy the NATO alliance.

"What was the justification for boycotting the Olympics in the 1980s? According to my calculations, the potential threat is now greater than it was then. We need to have this discussion," said Gottlich.

The United States will co-host the 2026 World Cup from June 11 to July 19, 2026, along with Canada and Mexico. Fans are concerned about high ticket prices, while travel bans imposed by the Trump administration also barred supporters from some participating countries from attending.

Gottlich, who has called for defending values, is likely to face resistance to the boycott call from DFB President Bernd Neuendorf and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

The DFB has previously expressed its opposition to Qatar hosting the 2022 World Cup.

Germany failed miserably at the tournament. The coach who took over afterwards, Julian Nagelsmann, said he did not want any more political interference.

"Qatar is too political for everyone and now we are completely apolitical? That's something that really, really, really bothers me."

"As an organization and society, we forget how to set taboos and boundaries, and how to defend values."

"Taboo is an important part of our establishment. Is the taboo broken when someone threatens? Is the taboo broken when someone attacks? When people die?"

"I want to know from Donald Trump when he has reached his bottom. I want to know from Bernd Neuendorf and Gianni Infantino," said Gottlich as reported by ESPN.

Hamburg-based St. Pauli is known for mixing sport with politics, and in particular the establishment of its left wing.

The club's famous skull and crossbones pirate symbol was first brought in by squatters living nearby and then popularized by fans identifying as punks.

Gottlich rejected the notion that a boycott would hurt St. Pauli players, such as Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe from Australia, as well as Joel Chima Fujita from Japan.

"The life of a professional player is no more valuable than the lives of many people in various regions who are directly or indirectly attacked or threatened by the host of the 2026 World Cup," he said.

Meanwhile, France's Minister of Sport, Marina Ferrari, said earlier this week that her country is currently not considering a boycott over the tensions related to Greenland, but is not ruling it out in the future.

"Currently, the ministry does not have the desire to boycott this much-anticipated major tournament. Nevertheless, I do not judge what may happen," Ferrari said on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.