The German Football Association (DFB) has pushed back against growing calls to boycott the 2026 World Cup, which the United States will host this summer with several matches staged in Mexico and Canada. Speaking at a German Football League (DFL) meeting, DFB President Bernd Neuendorf described the idea of a boycott as unnecessary and ill-timed, saying the association is largely united in viewing such a debate as misguided right now.
DFL President Hans-Joachim Watzke, present at the meeting, echoed that sentiment, arguing that a boycott discussion is inappropriate at this stage and can be handled when the moment is right. Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen pointed to the 2018 World Cup in Russia — which proceeded despite geopolitical tensions over Crimea — to argue Germany should likewise take part in 2026 and leave political disputes to diplomatic channels.
Despite the DFB leadership’s stance, pressure for a boycott has risen in Germany and across Europe, fueled by concerns about recent U.S. policy and rhetoric, including President Donald Trump’s comments about Greenland and a high-profile fatal shooting in Minneapolis involving ICE agents. Observers say a coordinated European boycott remains unlikely given political divisions and the fallout from protests at the Qatar World Cup, but public debate continues.
Unity inside the DFB is not complete. Vice President and St. Pauli chairman Oke Göttlich publicly stated his personal opposition to traveling to the U.S. under current circumstances, acknowledging that a majority within the association might still opt against a boycott. Neuendorf criticized Göttlich for raising his objections in public rather than first discussing them within DFB committees.
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has urged a fan boycott on social media, and some supporters already face travel restrictions because of recent changes to U.S. entry rules. As the tournament approaches, the conversation over whether German football should participate appears likely to continue.
Edited by: Chuck Penfold