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The 2026 World Cup has never been so dangerous to host. The problem is political, not sporting. More and more European teams are reportedly considering boycotting the North American tournament following recent developments in relations with the United States. But let's take things one step at a time.
Angry Danes
Denmark is clearly the leader of the protests. The ongoing claims of Donald Trump, the US president, over Greenland (a Danish crown territory) have angered public opinion, so much so that a recent poll conducted by the BT portal found that 90% of Danes agree with a possible boycott of the World Cup (Denmark is competing in the “play-offs”).
The demand has also resonated in neighboring Sweden, where a significant segment of consumers have long refrained from buying "Made in USA" goods in response to tariffs and a lack of clarity regarding Trump's stance on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Support from Germany
The issue was raised in Germany by the vice-president of the Football Association, Oke Göttlish, president of St. Pauli, a club in Hamburg's working-class district, who has long been a vocal opponent of football's business model. In an article in the Hamburger Morgenpost, Göttlish wondered whether "the time has come to consider any concrete action".
These words echo the request of St. Pauli fans themselves, who recently launched an appeal to FIFA demanding the long-awaited recognition of the Greenland Football Association.
A symbolic gesture that, however, could serve as "diplomatic leverage" against US demands. The initiative was also supported by several CDU politicians, but was blocked by Federal President Bernd Neuendorf, who had also supported the German national team's human rights protest in Qatar.
Fans and the problems of entering the USA
There are also security concerns. First and foremost, after images circulated in recent days from Minneapolis, with 3,000 ICE agents deployed in Trump's infamous anti-immigration operation. And, speaking of which, it is still unclear how the federal government intends to manage the (potentially large) influx of fans from around the world to attend the 2026 World Cup.
In recent months, Washington has suspended or even denied tourist visas to citizens of several countries, including some that have qualified for the World Cup. This is the case with Iran, which has also been rocked by domestic protests that have resulted in a violent crackdown by the regime. And it is still unclear how Infantino's proposed "FIFA card," which would facilitate entry for fans with all passports, as long as they have a ticket, would be implemented.
In short, the tense international climate, growing domestic tensions in the US and uncertainties about the granting of tourist visas seriously threaten to undermine the spirit of brotherhood and universality that has always underpinned the World Cup. The idea of a boycott is not impossible, and week after week, it is gaining more and more ground./ Gazzetta Dello Sport
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