A senior German Football Association (DFB) official has said that discussions about a potential boycott of the 2026 FIFA World Cup should now be taken seriously, citing escalating political tensions between the United States and European leaders.
The tournament is set to be co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico this summer.
Oke Gottlich, DFB vice president and president of Bundesliga club St. Pauli, said the current situation could no longer be ignored.
“I really wonder when the time will be to think and talk about this [a boycott] concretely. For me, that time has definitely come,” Gottlich told the Hamburger Morgenpost.
The warning followed recent controversial actions by U.S. President Donald Trump, including threats to acquire Greenland, which is under Danish control, and proposed tariffs on eight European countries, including Germany, that opposed the plan.
While Trump later withdrew the tariff threat, diplomatic tensions remain high.
France has indicated it is not currently in favour of a boycott, while the Danish Football Association said it is monitoring the “sensitive situation,” as Denmark seeks qualification for the World Cup through playoffs.
Gottlich drew parallels with the 1980 U.S.-led boycott of the Moscow Olympics, stating: “By my reckoning the potential threat is greater now than it was then. We need to have this discussion.”
Reflecting on Germany’s clash with FIFA during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Gottlich cited restrictions on the OneLove armband, worn to promote diversity and inclusion.
Players had protested by covering their mouths during team photographs to signal that FIFA was silencing their voices.
“Qatar was too political for everyone and now we’re completely apolitical? That’s something that really, really, really bothers me,” Gottlich said.
He emphasised the importance of defending values and setting boundaries, questioning when political threats or attacks cross a line.
He further challenged FIFA leadership, asking: “I would like to know from Donald Trump when he has reached his taboo, and I would like to know from [DFB president] Bernd Neuendorf and [FIFA president] Gianni Infantino.”
The remarks signal a growing debate in Germany over whether political tensions could influence the country’s participation in the World Cup, raising questions about the role of football amid international diplomacy.
