Calls for Boycott of 2026 FIFA World Cup Grow

Soccer officials in Germany and France consider boycotting tournament over U.S. policies

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup, to be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is already facing calls for boycotts from some international soccer officials. Recent actions by the U.S. government, including threats to annex Greenland and crackdowns on immigration, have heightened concerns about the country's role in hosting the tournament and what that will mean for visitors. Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has also voiced concerns over the marginalization of political opponents and violent crackdowns on immigration in the U.S. While boycotts of international sporting events have occurred in the past, there has never been a World Cup boycott by qualified teams on political grounds.

Why it matters

The World Cup is meant to bring together fans from across the world, but concerns have been raised about whether visitors will be detained or handed over to U.S. immigration authorities if they engage in actions deemed critical of the government. A boycott could significantly impact the tournament and the countries hosting it.

The details

Calls for a boycott were amplified recently following U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to annex Greenland from Denmark, prompting soccer officials in Germany and France to broach the possibility of both countries boycotting the tournament. Both countries' soccer federations have pushed back against calls to boycott the World Cup for now, although recent events in Minneapolis have heightened concerns. Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has also voiced concerns over the marginalization of political opponents and violent crackdowns on immigration in the U.S.

  • The 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup is scheduled to be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
  • Calls for a boycott have been growing in recent months.

The players

Donald Trump

The current President of the United States, whose actions and policies have sparked concerns about the country's role in hosting the World Cup.

Sepp Blatter

The former President of FIFA, who has voiced concerns over the marginalization of political opponents and violent crackdowns on immigration in the U.S.

Gianni Infantino

The current President of FIFA, who has defended Qatar's building practices and been willing to change FIFA's policies to acquiesce to Qatar's demands.

Germany Soccer Federation

The national soccer federation of Germany, which has considered the possibility of boycotting the 2026 World Cup.

France Soccer Federation

The national soccer federation of France, which has also considered the possibility of boycotting the 2026 World Cup.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

As of now, no leaders of major soccer federations have endorsed calls for their country to boycott the tournament, but further escalation of geopolitical tensions by the U.S. government could spark more serious boycott discussions.

The takeaway

The potential boycott of the 2026 FIFA World Cup highlights the growing tensions between international sporting events and geopolitics, raising questions about the role of sports in addressing broader social and political issues.