Germany (foto: Getty Images)
German politicians have raised the possibility of boycotting the 2026 World Cup over the Greenland crisis, a move that could trigger a major political and sporting storm for FIFA and the tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
The growing political crisis surrounding Greenland is beginning to spill over into football, with German politicians now openly mentioning the possibility of a boycott of the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Just five months before the start of the tournament, the situation is becoming increasingly sensitive. In Germany, there is rising concern over the United States’ controversial stance on Greenland, which has already caused strong reactions in Denmark, the European Union and NATO.
The debate has now reached the sporting arena. Jürgen Hardt, a senior politician from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and a close associate of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, told Bild that a German withdrawal from the World Cup would be an extreme measure — but not an impossible one.
“A boycott would be an extreme step, but it could be a possible form of pressure if the United States insists on this course,” Hardt said, while stressing that he still hopes for a diplomatic solution.
Even the public mention of such a scenario is enough to cause unease at FIFA. Germany is a four-time world champion (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014) and one of the most influential and marketable national teams in world football. Its absence would represent a massive sporting, political, and financial blow to the tournament.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first in history with 48 national teams, and FIFA has built the entire commercial and promotional strategy around the presence of the biggest football nations. A German boycott would almost certainly not remain an isolated case.
The discussion has also been fuelled by British journalist Piers Morgan, who is known for his personal links to Donald Trump. He publicly suggested that England, France, Spain, Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands, Norway, and Italy should consider a coordinated withdrawal from the tournament.
“If most of the favourites step aside, the pressure on the US administration would be enormous,” Morgan argued, calling for a united European response.
For now, everything remains at the level of political signals and public warnings. No official federation has announced concrete steps. However, if Berlin or other European capitals move from words to actions, FIFA president Gianni Infantino could soon find himself facing one of the biggest crises in the history of the World Cup.
What was supposed to be a celebration of global football could, in the worst-case scenario, turn into a tournament overshadowed by geopolitics, boycotts and unprecedented controversy.