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Völler: No Matchday Political Debates for Germany at 2026 World Cup

The sporting director cites the Qatar armband turmoil as a lesson to keep preparation undisturbed.

Overview

  • Rudi Völler said on Sport1’s Doppelpass that the team will not let political discussions affect World Cup matches this summer.
  • He stressed there will be no gag order on players, while insisting debates should not occur on matchday or immediately beforehand.
  • He vowed that last‑minute internal disputes like those in 2022 will not be repeated.
  • At Qatar 2022, FIFA banned the One‑Love armband after days of internal DFB discussions, and the team responded with a mouth‑covering photo before losing to Japan.
  • Coverage suggests political topics are likely to surface at the U.S. tournament under President Donald Trump, prompting the DFB’s preventative stance.