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The French government is not in favor of boycotting the 2026 World Cup, which this year will be held jointly by the US, Canada and Mexico, despite former US President Donald Trump's threats against Greenland, French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari has stated.
Trump has threatened tariffs on several European countries, including France, for opposing his plan to annex Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. This has prompted political backlash, including from far-left French politician Éric Coquerel, who called for the US to be stripped of its hosting rights for the World Cup.
" Currently, the ministry is not considering boycotting this great competition," Ferrari said, adding that sport should be kept separate from politics. "The World Cup is an extremely important moment for those who love sports ."
For his part, Coquerel said he could not imagine France playing in a country that threatens its neighbors, threatens to invade Greenland and violates international law. Veteran coach Claude Le Roy, who led Cameroon to the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations title, also suggested that African teams boycott the World Cup, which will be held from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
The French stance came hours after the German government said that decisions on possible boycotts were up to sports federations, not politicians. Christiane Schenderlein, state minister for sports, said: “ Decisions on participation in or boycotts of major sporting events belong solely to the respective associations, in this case the German FA and FIFA .”
Meanwhile, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has cultivated a close relationship with Trump, even creating a "Special Peace Prize" that he presented to the former president during the World Cup draw in December.
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