As the 2026 FIFA World Cup draws near, fierce discussions are underway among German political and football circles over whether to boycott the tournament hosted by the United States. The debate centers on how to respond to US President Donald Trump’s recently alleged threatening foreign policies targeting Europe, as well as concerns over the country’s domestic political environment and human rights situation.
Recently, a fierce debate has erupted in German football circles over whether Germany should boycott the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Jan-Christian Dreesen, CEO of Bayern Munich, publicly expressed his opposition to the boycott, while DFB vice-president Oak Göttlich called for a formal discussion on the possibility of boycotting—creating a stark contrast between the two sides’ positions.
At the New Year reception held by the Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) in Frankfurt, Dreesen made his stance clear: “There has never been a precedent for boycotting a World Cup, and I do not understand why we should not participate in this tournament.” He emphasized that the boycott proposal put forward by Göttlich earlier only represented a “single voice” and hinted that such discussions were “completely inappropriate” in the current context. Hans-Joachim Watzke, CEO of Borussia Dortmund and DFL president, held a similar view, stating that “now is not the time to discuss this matter.”
However, Göttlich, who is also president of FC St. Pauli as well as vice-president of the DFB and DFL, insisted that the football community should carefully examine the relevant policies and situations of the host countries. In an interview with Camel Live, he pointed out: “The life of a professional footballer is no more important than the lives of those people who are directly or indirectly threatened by the World Cup host nations.” He further added: “Personally, I suggest not going to participate, because the current situation in the host countries is worrying.”
Göttlich targeted FIFA and political figures of the host nations: “This is not the political stance of FC St. Pauli or myself, but the policies promoted by Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump.” He also mentioned that the 2018 Russia World Cup was not boycotted, but stressed that “when too much stage is given to large-scale sports events, we must examine the trends behind them.” Regarding the feedback his initiative received within the DFB and DFL, Göttlich admitted that there were “voices of criticism.”
As the 2026 World Cup draws near, the debate over Germany’s participation has extended from the sports level to the fields of politics and social responsibility. Although top clubs such as Bayern tend to compete as planned, Göttlich’s call reflects the deep concerns of some people about the relationship between international events and geopolitics. The final decision on whether Germany will participate still requires further coordination between the DFB and all parties concerned.
