The train to Stuttgart is crowded. At each stop, people in Germany shirts climb aboard, talking about the national team and the upcoming FIFA World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico.
On a late March evening, Germany play Ghana in the final international break before World Cup preparations. Many supporters began their journeys early, including friends Dennis and Kai. The two put on their kits and headed to Stuttgart to back the team in person.
For Dennis, trips like this are routine. He has followed the national team since 2015 and has rarely missed a match. Kai became a regular during Euro 2024 on home soil. “Wearing the eagle on your chest and singing the national anthem is something special,” Dennis said. “You always meet other fans, travel to tournaments — it gives you goosebumps.”
They are what supporters call regulars: fans who follow the team to every match, wherever it is held.
The buzz builds long before kick-off. “I’m really looking forward to it,” Kai said. “I want to soak up everything happening in the cities.” Dennis added that the excitement starts years in advance as fans save and plan their trips. Both have bought tickets for Germany’s group games and have itineraries mapped out. For them, current US politics haven’t dampened enthusiasm. “Politics should stay out of sport,” Dennis said. “Sport is meant to build bridges and bring people together, but politics often exploits tournaments.”
Not everyone is as relaxed. Former Germany coach Joachim Löw has warned against traveling to North America. Löw referred to calls for boycotts in past tournaments and said playing in a country “actively at war” is more dangerous. He was commenting on the political situation under US President Donald Trump after the start of hostilities with Iran, and on actions by immigration authorities and other geopolitical tensions that, in his view, overshadow the tournament.
Criticism has also come from politicians. Green Party MP and human rights activist Boris Mijatovic told DW he is uneasy about what FIFA is organising with Trump. He warned about the disclosure of personal data — email addresses, phones, computers and social accounts — calling such surveillance an infringement on personal freedom. “A state that snoops into your privacy in this way should not be rewarded with a visit,” he said.
Mijatovic also fears awkward moments such as FIFA President Gianni Infantino presenting a FIFA Peace Prize to Trump during the World Cup draw. He called the need to court favor “grotesque,” and included leaders and football officials in his criticism. He said he misses a stronger stance against FIFA and believes respect and fair play have been eroded. Amnesty International has also flagged human rights risks and abuses in the World Cup host countries, including the USA.
Many German fans are skeptical. Bengt Kunkel, known for helping create atmosphere at Germany games, will watch the 2026 World Cup on TV rather than travel. He takes a critical view of the tournament and sees Trump as trying to appropriate the event for his political agenda. Kunkel also points to restrictions on press freedom and freedom of expression, FIFA’s political gestures, and the cost to fans.
He and others calculated that group-stage travel alone could cost between €5,000 and €8,000 ($5,800–$9,280). “This isn’t a fan-friendly tournament,” he said. Kunkel is also concerned about stricter entry requirements for the US, including checks of social media activity to see if people have posted anything against Trump — measures he says contradict the idea of inviting the world to celebrate a football festival.
Still, opinions are divided. Kunkel understands those who decide to go and does not believe a boycott is the right answer. “It has to be OK to support the national team, despite everything,” he said. “So let’s make the best of it and have a brilliant World Cup summer.”
Dennis and Kai admit it’s “not a fan-friendly World Cup,” but they trust the US to ensure safety and expect a great football festival. “We want to become world champions; we’re due that fifth star,” Dennis said. “We have to be a team and act as a team, and if we fans stand behind the team, we can go a long way.”
This article was originally published in German.
