Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump (Photo by Kevin Dietsch, Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
A senior German soccer official has suggested that the country needs serious discussions about boycotting this summer’s 2026 World Cup.
Germany has won the tournament four times, but with Donald Trump’s recent actions there may be a very real possibility that major powers will refuse to participate in the tournament in North America.
The US president has recently been embroiled in a spat over a possible bid to seize control of Greenland, which is part of Denmark, potentially sparking a crisis among NATO countries.
Mr. Trump has long been a controversial figure, and many may feel that the United States is currently not in a good position to host such a major international convention.
Could Germany boycott the 2026 World Cup?
Oke Gottrich, president of Bundesliga side St. Pauli and one of the German federation’s 10 vice-presidents, told Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper that “the time has come” to “seriously consider and discuss” the possibility of boycotting the World Cup.
“What was the justification for boycotting the Olympics in the 1980s?” he said. “In my opinion, the potential threat is greater now than it was then. We need to have this discussion.”
It is currently considered unlikely that other major powers would support a boycott, with France already denying it at this time.
Still, it’s a sign of major tensions, particularly in Europe, following President Trump’s erratic behavior.
Donald Trump awards World Cup trophy to winner
In other World Cup news this week, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that President Trump will award the trophy to the tournament winner.
This is another controversial decision, likely to be seen as too overtly political for what is supposed to be a neutral sports tournament without a broad agenda.
Infantino said, “This trophy will be handed over to the captain of the team that will win the World Cup on July 19th.” “I present it with the president of the host country, the United States. No one is allowed to touch this trophy.”
