A senior German football executive is urging European nations to consider boycotting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, warning that the tournament cannot be separated from growing geopolitical tensions tied to US President Donald Trump and FIFA’s leadership.
Oke Göttlich, president of Bundesliga club St. Pauli and a vice president of the German Football Association, said Europe should actively push other countries to refuse participation in the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Speaking to German outlet Hamburger Morgenpost, Göttlich argued that the current global climate makes silence from football authorities untenable.
“What were the justifications for the boycotts of the Olympic Games in the 1980s?” Göttlich said. “By my reckoning, the potential threat is greater now than it was then. We need to have this discussion.”
Göttlich’s comments come amid rising concern in parts of Europe over Trump’s foreign policy posture, including renewed rhetoric surrounding Greenland and other international flashpoints. He said football leaders can no longer pretend that hosting a World Cup is a neutral act when the host country’s political leadership is openly using the tournament as a symbol of global influence.
He also took aim at FIFA President Gianni Infantino, accusing the organization of applying double standards when it comes to politics in sport. “Qatar was too political for everyone, and now we’re completely apolitical?” Göttlich said, according to Politico. “That really, really bothers me.”
The criticism follows FIFA’s decision to award Trump its newly created “peace prize” during the 2026 World Cup draw ceremony in Washington, DC. Infantino presented the award to Trump in front of an international audience, praising what FIFA described as “exceptional and extraordinary” efforts to promote peace and unity. Trump accepted the award and thanked Infantino, claiming that together they had “saved millions and millions of lives.”
FIFA announced the annual prize last November, saying it would honor individuals who bring “hope for future generations.” Trump became its first recipient. Infantino has developed a close relationship with Trump since his return to office, visiting the White House frequently and attending events linked to Trump’s foreign policy initiatives, including a Gaza ceasefire agreement signed in Egypt.
Trump has repeatedly insisted that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his involvement in ending or reducing several international conflicts. He was again passed over last month when the Nobel Committee awarded the peace prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
Göttlich said FIFA’s celebration of Trump only reinforces the argument that the World Cup is being politicized at the highest level. “The life of a professional player is not worth more than the lives of countless people in various regions who are being directly or indirectly attacked or threatened by the World Cup host,” he said.
While Göttlich is pushing for a coordinated European response, not all governments agree. France’s sports minister said this week there is no interest in boycotting the tournament, maintaining that international sport should remain separate from politics.
European football leadership has weighed in on political issues more so in recent years. Norway’s football federation president Lise Klaveness has repeatedly slammed human rights concerns linked to major tournaments, and Ireland’s football association previously sought to exclude Israel from international competition before a Gaza peace agreement was reached last year.
FIFA has given no indication that it is reconsidering the 2026 World Cup. Organizers continue to move forward with planning across North America, despite growing calls from figures like Göttlich for Europe to draw a hard line and pressure others to stay away.
Oke Göttlich, president of Bundesliga club St. Pauli and a vice president of the German Football Association, said Europe should actively push other countries to refuse participation in the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Speaking to German outlet Hamburger Morgenpost, Göttlich argued that the current global climate makes silence from football authorities untenable.
“What were the justifications for the boycotts of the Olympic Games in the 1980s?” Göttlich said. “By my reckoning, the potential threat is greater now than it was then. We need to have this discussion.”
Göttlich’s comments come amid rising concern in parts of Europe over Trump’s foreign policy posture, including renewed rhetoric surrounding Greenland and other international flashpoints. He said football leaders can no longer pretend that hosting a World Cup is a neutral act when the host country’s political leadership is openly using the tournament as a symbol of global influence.
He also took aim at FIFA President Gianni Infantino, accusing the organization of applying double standards when it comes to politics in sport. “Qatar was too political for everyone, and now we’re completely apolitical?” Göttlich said, according to Politico. “That really, really bothers me.”
The criticism follows FIFA’s decision to award Trump its newly created “peace prize” during the 2026 World Cup draw ceremony in Washington, DC. Infantino presented the award to Trump in front of an international audience, praising what FIFA described as “exceptional and extraordinary” efforts to promote peace and unity. Trump accepted the award and thanked Infantino, claiming that together they had “saved millions and millions of lives.”
FIFA announced the annual prize last November, saying it would honor individuals who bring “hope for future generations.” Trump became its first recipient. Infantino has developed a close relationship with Trump since his return to office, visiting the White House frequently and attending events linked to Trump’s foreign policy initiatives, including a Gaza ceasefire agreement signed in Egypt.
Trump has repeatedly insisted that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his involvement in ending or reducing several international conflicts. He was again passed over last month when the Nobel Committee awarded the peace prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
Göttlich said FIFA’s celebration of Trump only reinforces the argument that the World Cup is being politicized at the highest level. “The life of a professional player is not worth more than the lives of countless people in various regions who are being directly or indirectly attacked or threatened by the World Cup host,” he said.
While Göttlich is pushing for a coordinated European response, not all governments agree. France’s sports minister said this week there is no interest in boycotting the tournament, maintaining that international sport should remain separate from politics.
European football leadership has weighed in on political issues more so in recent years. Norway’s football federation president Lise Klaveness has repeatedly slammed human rights concerns linked to major tournaments, and Ireland’s football association previously sought to exclude Israel from international competition before a Gaza peace agreement was reached last year.
FIFA has given no indication that it is reconsidering the 2026 World Cup. Organizers continue to move forward with planning across North America, despite growing calls from figures like Göttlich for Europe to draw a hard line and pressure others to stay away.
