A senior official of the German Football Association (DFB) has called on European football leaders to seriously examine the possibility of boycotting the 2026 FIFA World Cup in response to recent actions and statements made by United States President Donald Trump.
The tournament is scheduled to take place this summer across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with the U.S. hosting the majority of the matches. Out of the 104 games planned, 78 are set to be played on American soil.
Diplomatic tensions have escalated between Washington and several European nations following President Trump’s controversial remarks about acquiring Greenland, an autonomous territory governed by Denmark. The comments sparked outrage across Europe, particularly in Copenhagen.
The situation further deteriorated after the 79-year-old president threatened to impose tariffs on eight European countries, including Germany, in retaliation for their opposition to his position. Although Trump later softened his stance, relations remain strained.
Oke Göttlich, vice-president of the German FA and president of Bundesliga club St Pauli, believes football authorities must now confront the issue directly.
“I genuinely wonder when the time will come to seriously think and talk about a boycott,” Göttlich told Hamburger Morgenpost. “For me, that moment has already arrived.”
His remarks have triggered varied reactions across Europe. While the French government stated that it does not currently support a boycott, the Danish Football Association acknowledged the sensitivity of the situation. Denmark are expected to attempt qualification for the tournament through the playoffs.
Göttlich also referenced historical examples, including the U.S.-led boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
“What were the reasons behind the Olympic boycotts in the 1980s?” he asked. “In my view, the potential threat today is even greater. This is a conversation we must have.”
The German FA has previously found itself at odds with FIFA on political expression in football. During 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.
However, FIFA intervened shortly before the tournament, warning that players would face bookings if they wore the armband. Instead, FIFA introduced its own No Discrimination campaign, allowing captains to wear an approved armband.
In protest, German players covered their mouths during the team photograph before their opening match against Japan, a gesture head coach Hansi Flick said symbolised that “FIFA is silencing” teams.
“The refusal to allow us wear the armband is the same as taking away our voice. We stand firmly by our position,” the DFB stated at the time.
Göttlich stressed that football must be consistent in its moral stance and not selective in addressing political issues.
“Qatar was considered too political, and now we suddenly act as if we are completely apolitical? That deeply troubles me,” he said.
“As organisations and as a society, we are losing our ability to draw lines, establish boundaries, and defend our values.
“Taboos are essential. When exactly is a line crossed — when someone threatens, when someone attacks, or only when lives are lost?
“I want to know from Donald Trump where his red line is, and I also want answers from [DFB president] Bernd Neuendorf and [FIFA president] Gianni Infantino.”
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