WORLD

"German Soccer Leader Proposes World Cup Boycott"

24.01.2026 5,11 B 5 Mins Read

BERLIN (AP) – A member of the executive committee of the German soccer federation has proposed serious discussions about a potential boycott of the upcoming World Cup due to the actions of U.S. President Donald Trump. Oke Göttlich, the president of Bundesliga club St. Pauli and one of the ten vice presidents of the German federation, expressed his views in an interview with the Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper on Friday, stating that "the time has come" to examine this idea closely.

Göttlich highlighted Trump's controversial takeover bid for Greenland, a territory of Denmark, which has strained relations with European allies. He referenced the discord created by Trump's administration, including threats to impose tariffs on countries that opposed the Greenland deal. This emerging rift has raised alarms among NATO member countries about a potential fracture in their alliance with the United States.

In his statements, Göttlich drew parallels between the current political climate and past calls for boycotting the Olympic Games in the 1980s. He argued that, by his assessment, the potential threat posed today is even more significant than during those times. "What were the justifications for the boycotts of the Olympic Games in the 1980s?" Göttlich questioned, urging for a robust discussion on this topic.

The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19. Concerns among fans have been voiced regarding high ticket prices and travel bans stemming from Trump's administration, which have affected supporters from specific countries looking to attend the tournament.

Despite Göttlich’s advocacy for a boycott, it remains likely that he will encounter pushback from figures like federation president Bernd Neuendorf and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Göttlich criticized the notion that the upcoming World Cup could be politically neutral, contrasting it with the political controversies surrounding the Qatar World Cup in 2022. "That really, really bothers me," he remarked regarding the German federation’s stance on prior tournaments.

Göttlich also articulated the need for organizations and individuals to establish and adhere to values that define acceptable boundaries. He posed philosophical queries regarding what constitutes a violation of these boundaries, especially in light of threats and violence against vulnerable populations. "I would like to know from Donald Trump when he has reached his taboo," he stated, extending the question to Neuendorf and Infantino as well.

St. Pauli, based in Hamburg, is known for its intersection of sports and politics, particularly maintaining a left-wing ideology. The club’s emblem, a pirate skull-and-crossbones, has historical roots tied to the local squatters’ movement and has been embraced by fans identifying as punks.

Responding to concerns regarding the potential impact of a boycott on his players, including Australia’s Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe, and Japan’s Joel Chima Fujita, Göttlich rejected the idea. He emphasized that the lives and welfare of professional players should not surpass the importance of addressing the injustices faced by numerous individuals across the world who are affected by the actions of the World Cup host.

Through his remarks, Göttlich aims to stimulate a dialogue around global ethics in sports, especially concerning the intersection of politics and sporting events, and how these themes reflect broader social values.

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