‘last Resort’—german Politician Suggests World Cup Boycott Over Greenland Issue

A German leader has suggested that nan German nationalist squad could boycott nan 2026 World Cup, held successful nan United States, Canada and Mexico, “as a past edifice successful bid to get [President Donald] Trump to spot consciousness connected nan Greenland issue.”

Jürgen Hardt, who useful arsenic a spokesperson connected overseas argumentation for nan Christian Democratic Union party, made nan declare connected his ain to BILD. He was not publically backed by Sports Minister Christiane Schenderline, besides from nan CDU, who said that nan German Football Federation (DFB) and FIFA, arsenic "the responsible associations,” should section inquiries. 

Germany, a salient NATO personnel alongside Denmark, nan federation to which Greenland belongs, has sent subject unit to nan nordic island, alongside France and respective different European nations. 

Trump, meanwhile, has accrued his rhetoric connected adding Greenland to nan United States, suggesting that “we request Greenland for nationalist security” and that he whitethorn enforce stricter tariffs connected nations “if they don’t spell on pinch [the scheme for] Greenland.”

While speaking pinch BILD, Hardt besides pointed retired that Trump has made it evidently clear really “important nan World Cup is to him,” and expressed that he has “confidence that we will scope a amended communal knowing wrong NATO regarding nan Greenland issue.”

Polling conducted by BILD earlier Trump’s latest threats revealed important support for a German World Cup boycott, pinch 47% of Germans successful favour and conscionable 35% against if nan U.S. took power of Greenland.

Germany qualified for nan 2026 tourney aft claiming nan apical spot successful Group A of UEFA World Cup qualifying and will play against Curaçao, Côte d’Ivoire and Ecuador successful nan group stage, pinch those matches group to return spot successful Houston and East Rutherford, New Jersey, arsenic good arsenic Toronto, Canada. 

Germany's High Demand for World Cup Tickets

Hardt’s concerns astir nan 2026 World Cup person not dampened excitement for nan tourney successful Germany. On Jan. 14, FIFA announced that it received complete 500 cardinal summons requests for nan tournament, pinch Germany ranking 4th among countries seeking introduction to matches, only trailing nan 3 big nations. 

However, nary Germany group shape games were included successful nan astir in-demand matchups, which included Mexico vs. South Korea, Mexico vs. South Africa, nan Round of 32 lucifer successful Toronto and nan World Cup last successful New Jersey.

World Cup boycotts person not been common. However, Iran boycotted nan 2026 World Cup tie connected Dec. 5, 2025, citing visa restrictions for its officials.

READ THE LATEST WORLD CUP NEWS, PREVIEWS & ANALYSIS HERE