Overview
- Oke Göttlich, a DFB vice-president and St. Pauli president, said it is time to “seriously consider and discuss” a World Cup boycott, invoking Cold War–era Olympic precedents.
- France’s sports minister said the country has no current desire to boycott, and the Netherlands confirmed it plans to participate, even as some European politicians keep boycott or exclusion motions in play.
- The call follows President Donald Trump’s pursuit of a Greenland deal and earlier tariff threats toward European opponents of the plan, developments that unsettled NATO partners.
- Football leaders are expected to resist withdrawal, with reporting pointing to likely opposition from DFB president Bernd Neuendorf and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
- Practical concerns persist over access and attendance, with reports of U.S. visa processing limits affecting some nations and FIFA’s prioritized appointment system offering faster scheduling without guaranteeing approvals.