Sports
Donald Trump Threat Could Lead Germany to ‘Boycott’ 2026 World Cup
Ahead of the 2026 World Cup getting underway in the summer, there are a series of front-running nations who will be pursuing glory in North America. Julian Nagelsmann‘s Germany are among the strongest competing teams, but there are now concerns over their participation.
Argentina, who secured glory in Qatar in 2022, will be looking to retain their status as the best international side on the planet – but the likes of Spain, England and France are just a triumvirate of nations looking to upset the apple cart.
Germany, four-time winners of the World Cup, are among those, but a politician has recently suggested that boycotting the summer showpiece is on the cards following United States President Donald Trump’s threats against Greenland, the world’s largest island.
Politician Threatens Germany’s Place at the 2026 World Cup After Donald Trump Intervention
Donald Trump – the United States President, who is in his second term – believes his country needs to acquire Greenland for national security reasons. Initially, Trump’s demands were rejected by Greenland’s leaders and by Nato member, Denmark, but the American has not ruled out using military force to get his way.
Trump, in an attempt to offset any criticism, has even threatened to impose tariffs on countries that do not “go along” with his plan to annex Greenland. At Friday’s White House meeting on rural healthcare, the 79-year-old President said:
“I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security.”
Politician Jurgen Hardt (CDU) spoke to newspaper BILD recently to suggest that Germany could withdraw from football’s biggest competition in response to Trump’s threats against Greenland. “Dropping out of the tournament would, however, only be considered as a last resort in order to get Trump to see sense on the Greenland issue,” he said.
FIFA Urged to Move 2026 World Cup From USA to UK Following Donald Trump Threats
The legendary British broadcaster has voiced his support for the World Cup to be moved closer to home amid rising political tension.
The aforementioned report claims that Hardt is the first politician, a man of power, to suggest that Nagelsmann and his men may not get on the plane this summer.
He also expressed his “confidence that we will reach a better common understanding of security within NATO regarding the Greenland issue.” Hardt, a representative of the CDU/CSU parliamentary faction on foreign policy, also said:
“Canceling the tournament will only be considered as a last resort to bring President Trump to his senses on the Greenland issue.”
Germany are not the only nation who have raised concerns over the participation at this summer’s World Cup. Back in September 2025, Spanish government officials suggested that withdrawing their national team was on the cards due to political tensions on the global stage.
Germany’s World Cup History
A World Cup without Germany, should Hardt’s claims come true, would be an anomaly given Die Nationalmannschaft have missed the showpiece just twice since its inception in 1930, which was hosted and won by Uruguay. Germany did not participate in the first of its kind.
They were also not invited to partake in the 1950 edition – also won by Uruguay – following World War II, which ended five years prior to the competition getting underway.
Germany, having won on four occasions (1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014) are the second-most successful nation in football, behind five-time winners Brazil. In terms of nations in Europe, only Italy have the same number of wins as them and their most recent victory was courtesy of that Mario Gotze goal in extra-time against Argentina. Relive it below:
Away from football, West Germany are no strangers to boycotting big sporting events. They did so in 1980 when Moscow hosted the Summer Olympics – and they joined the protest against the Soviet Union, who were invading Afghanistan at the time.
