A senior official with the German Football Association (DFB) has called for a boycott of the upcoming 2026 World Cup in response to the political actions of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Oke Gottlich, a DFB vice-president and president of St. Pauli, told the Hamburger Morgenpost that a boycott must be discussed following Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on European allies—including Germany—who opposed his plan to acquire Greenland.
“I really wonder when the time will be to think and talk about this [a boycott] concretely,” Gottlich said. “For me, that time has definitely come.”
Gottlich compared the current situation to the 1980 Olympic boycotts, arguing that the U.S. government’s recent behavior crosses ethical boundaries.
He also criticized the football community for being “apolitical” now after the heavy political scrutiny surrounding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
While Denmark has acknowledged the “sensitive situation” and France has stated it does not currently support a withdrawal, Gottlich’s comments signal a growing rift between European football leaders and the 2026 host nation.
Of the 104 matches scheduled for this summer’s tournament, 78 are set to be played in the United States.
