The German soccer federation has confirmed it has met to discuss boycotting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which it is co-hosting with the United States.
Published January 31, 2026
Germany’s soccer federation has ruled out boycotting the World Cup, despite internal voices urging it to send a message to President Donald Trump.
“We believe in the unifying power of sport and the global impact of the FIFA World Cup. Our goal is to strengthen this positive force, not to hinder it,” the federation said in a statement late Friday.
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The federation, known as the DFB, said its executive committee met to discuss the option of boycotting the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, a consideration first proposed last week by DFB vice president Oke Gottrich.
Gottrich, who is also president of Bundesliga side St. Pauli, said it was time to “seriously consider” a boycott, citing President Trump’s recent actions and statements.
However, in what appeared to be a public rebuke to Gottrich, the DFB said: “Debates about sports policy should be held internally, not in public.”
The DFB said a boycott was “not currently under consideration. The DFB is in contact with political, security, business and sports representatives in the run-up to the tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19.”
President Trump has sown discord in Europe with his proposed purchase of Greenland and his threat to impose tariffs on European countries that oppose it, but his actions in Venezuela and at home in response to protests in American cities have also raised alarm.
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter last week advised fans to stay away from the tournament.
However, when Blatter was president, he opposed calls to boycott the 2018 World Cup in Russia, citing concerns about Ukraine.
“You cannot boycott football in any country,” he said at the time.
Ahead of this summer’s tournament, fans are concerned about high ticket prices, and a travel ban imposed by the Trump administration may prevent supporters from some competing countries from attending.
At least the German team will participate.
The DFB stated, “Next summer we would like to compete fairly with other qualified teams.” “And we hope that fans around the world will celebrate a peaceful festival of football in our stadiums and fan zones, just as we experienced at the 2024 European Championship in our own country.”
