The German Football Association has ruled out a boycott of the tournamentworld cupThis despite calls from within to send a message to US President Donald Trump.
“We believe in the unifying power of sport and the global impact the FIFA World Cup can have. Our aim is to strengthen this positive force, not to prevent it,” FIFA said in a statement released on Friday night.
The German Football Association said its executive committee met to discuss the option of boycotting events in the United States, Canada and Mexico as a primary considerationDFB vice-president Oak Gottlich proposed last week.
Gottlich, who is also chairman of Bundesliga club St. Pauli, cited Trump’s recent actions and comments and said it was time to “seriously consider” a boycott.
However, the DFB said that “debates on sports policy should take place internally and not in public”, in what appeared to be a public rebuke of Gottlich.
The German Football Association said that “no boycott is currently being considered. The German Football Association is in contact with representatives from the political, security, business and sports communities to prepare for the matches from June 11 to July 19.”
Trump sows seeds of discord in EuropeBid for Greenlandand threatened to impose tariffs on opposing European countries, while U.S. actions in Venezuela and at homeProtests in American citiesAlarms were also issued.
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter last weekFans are advised to stay awayfrom the tournament.
However, when Blatter was president, he opposed calls to boycott the 2018 World Cup in Russia over concerns about Ukraine.
“Football cannot be boycotted in any country,” he said at the time.
Fans worried ahead of this summer’s gameshigh ticket priceand the travel ban imposed by the Trump administration may alsoban supporterEntries from some of the participating countries.
At least the German team will be there.
“We want to compete fairly with other promoted teams next summer,” the DFB said. “We want fans around the world to celebrate a peaceful football festival in stadiums and fan zones – just like we experienced at Euro 2024 in our own countries.”
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