Calls for a boycott of the 2026 FIFA World Cup are increasing because of actions taken by United States President Donald Trump. The tournament will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The concerns have nothing to do with football itself. Instead, they are linked to Trump’s political decisions, especially his trade tariffs, immigration policies, and threats involving Greenland.
Recently, some politicians in the United Kingdom called for a boycott of the World Cup, saying the tariffs imposed on the UK were unfair. Other European lawmakers later joined them, saying they were worried about Trump’s threat to take over Greenland, which belongs to Denmark.
Now, senior football figures from Germany and France have also joined the calls for a European boycott of the tournament.
Trump’s tough immigration policies, his military action in Venezuela, where the U.S. reportedly seized the country’s president, and the Greenland issue have raised doubts about whether the United States should host the World Cup.
According to CityAM, Oke Goettlich, president of German club St. Pauli and a member of the executive boards of the Bundesliga and the German Football Federation, questioned whether it was right to continue hosting the World Cup in the U.S.
Writing on LinkedIn, Goettlich said Europeans should think carefully about taking part in a competition hosted by a country that he believes is threatening Europe.
Veteran French football coach Claude Le Roy also expressed concern. Le Roy has coached several African national teams, including Senegal, Ghana, Cameroon, and Togo.
He said he was wondering whether a boycott of the 2026 World Cup should be considered because of Trump’s behaviour towards Europe.
Le Roy also criticised FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, accusing football leaders of focusing only on money instead of the game.
Trump recently increased pressure on Europe by placing tariffs on the UK and seven other European countries. He also threatened to raise the tariffs further if the U.S. does not reach an agreement to take control of Greenland by early June.
The United States says Greenland is important for its national security because of its location and mineral resources, especially in relation to Russia and China.
European leaders have rejected Trump’s demands. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the tariffs as a mistake and promised a strong and united response from Europe.
Human rights groups have also raised concerns, asking for guarantees that foreign football fans will be allowed into the United States easily during the 2026 World Cup, following tighter U.S. entry rules for many countries.
