One major World Cup football association has made its position clear amid growing calls for a boycott of the 2026 tournament in the United States.
The German Football Association has addressed the issue as debate continues around the political context of the upcoming World Cup.
The comments follow renewed discussion within German football about whether participation should be reconsidered.
German FA dismisses calls for World Cup boycott
German Football Association president Bernd Neuendorf spoke on the matter while attending a German Football League meeting.
He stated that boycotting the tournament is not a subject the association believes should be discussed.
According to reports, Neuendorf said the DFB is united in its view and considers the debate misguided at this stage.
Neuendorf later addressed comments made by St. Pauli president Oke Gottlich, who suggested Germany should consider withdrawing from the tournament.
Different views emerge within German football
While the DFB leadership has rejected boycott discussions, differing opinions remain within German football. Gottlich’s remarks briefly reignited the topic before being played down by federation officials.
As reported by The Athletic, Neuendorf described the comments as coming from a single executive committee member and stressed that such matters are usually discussed internally.
Bayern Munich chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen also rejected the idea of a boycott, pointing to previous World Cups and arguing that football and geopolitics should remain separate.
Given the tense geopolitical situation surrounding the United States, along with Donald Trump’s decisions on visa bans for certain participating nations, this is a strong stance from the German FA.
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