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Why Germany probably won’t get political at 2026 World Cup

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The German national team’s sporting director, Rudi Völler, stressed in a  weekly sports talk show recently, that while no gag order would be imposed on anyone, “it cannot be that it’s being talked about, practically on a matchday like with this disaster in Qatar.”

Völler was referring to the One Love armband debate in Qatar, which Germany – and several other nations – dropped at the last minute after FIFA threatened sanctions. Germany then protested ahead of the Japan game by posing for the team photo with their mouths covered.

Germany were met with a lot of criticism for their gesture in Qatar, but Jürgen Mittag, a professor of sports politics at the German Sport University Cologne, believes had they made the quarterfinals things might have been different.

“But as it was, they were met with a great deal of ridicule because they were symbolically strong but sportingly weak,” Mittag told DW.

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Germany's team photo ahead of their 2022 World Cup game in Qatar against Japan
Germany’s protest ahead of the Japan game in Qatar was met with a lot of criticismImage: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

EU weakens Germany’s stance

The hope is that in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico Germany will perform better on the field, but what does that mean for their stance off it?

Michael Mutz, a professor of social sciences in sports at the Justus-Liebig University Giessen, doubts that any political statement will be made.

“I can’t imagine that the DFB (German Football Association) will actively pursue a political agenda against the host country again after the negative experiences in Qatar,” Mutz told DW. 

“The DFB is exposing itself to accusations of double standards because it criticized the situation in Qatar so harshly and will now presumably remain silent about the US, but the association will have to accept that.”

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Mittag believes Germany’s postion is weakened by the current state of the European Union. The bloc is now further challenged by Donald Trump’s new round of tariffs on six member states as well as the UK and Norway who sent troops or officials to Greenland — which Trump is intent on acquiring — for security purposes.

“European democracy is also suffering a little… it is becoming increasingly fragmented and is therefore somewhat less capable of acting in foreign policy. This applies to the big picture as a whole, as well as to the internal sphere of football and other sports-related matters,” Mittag explained before the tariffs, set to start on February 1, were announced.

“Germany has been very proactive in sports diplomacy in recent years, but has also found that although it plays a prominent role, it doesn’t receive much support,” Mittag added.

Mittag cites the example of Germany’s stance on Russia and Belarus’s return to the Olympics. Germany petitioned hard against this and tried to forge a strong alliance, but only received minimal support. Mittag believes this defeat has hurt them, and forced them to reconsider their approach.

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“That’s when Germany realized that it needs to pursue a different strategy. It doesn’t want to give up its position, but placing too much emphasis on moral, value-based issue is strategically clumsy. So, in the end, it does not lead to success and then you even have to put up with scorn or schadenfreude when you perform poorly in sporting terms,” Mittag explained.

Work in associations and in political circles will help strengthen Germany's role
Andreas Rettig (right) meets with DFB President Bernd Neuendorf (left) and Germany’s former Economic Affairs and Climate Action minister Robert HabeckImage: Dominik Butzmann/BMWK/picture alliance/dpa

Political shift in sports diplomacy

Andreas Rettig, an outspoken sports executive who used to work at St. Pauli, was appointed as the new DFB’s CEO in 2023 and may be the perfect person to forge new alliances and better position Germany in committees. Even he has come up against challenges though. Rettig’s attempt to initiate a dialogue on critical issues ahead of the 2024 Euros was not met with much enthusiasm by regional associations.

Others in Germany have been loud, though. St. Pauli President and DFB Vice President Oke Göttlich recently told Sportschau: “Personally, I would advise against traveling given the current situation in the country.”

After Bayern Munich’s Champions League win over Union Saint-Gilloise, Bayern and Germany captain Joshua Kimmich said he would “no longer be taking part in the political discussion.”

The DFB have yet to comment.

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“There has been a realpolitik shift in sports diplomacy, it’s somewhat less value-based, somewhat more realistic and acting pragmatically in order to perhaps achieve more success than in the past,” Mittag added.

Jürgen Mittag speaking at the Sport University Cologne
Jürgen Mittag believes that Germany can have a more effective strategy by winning over associations and committeesImage: BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Wunderl/picture alliance

Viewership might drop

The January protests against the Trump administration’s clampdown on illegal immigration – including a decision by the US justice department not to launch a criminal civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis on January 7 – have increased tensions in many places.

Given that Germany’s viewership dipped for the World Cup in Qatar, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see another drop this summer, particularly given the difficult kickoff times for European viewers.

“I believe that we will not see the same viewing figures as in previous World Cups,” Mittag said.

“I would actually assume that broadcasting and media behavior will also reflect the fact that a lot of people in the summer of 2026 will say, ‘I’m aware of this World Cup, but I’m not going to watch it all. I’m not as enthusiastic as in previous years, and in a small way, I’m expressing my criticism.’”

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 What is clear is that the moment Germany touch down in the United States, players and staff will have to answer questions about playing a tournament in the current political and social climate. The strength of their answers will depend on many factors, but perhaps most of all on how well they play on the field.

“The decisive factor for identification with the national team is not so much the political situation as the fact that the DFB team is perceived as a likeable, approachable, and successful team,” Mutz explained.

“Certainly, there is also a growing awareness in society that we are living in times of crisis and that political opinions are highly polarized. Especially in these times, the national football team could be an important anchor point for identification and the experience of belonging and community—across all social groups and political camps. However, football’s ability to bring different people together is weakened when the national team is perceived as too political.”

Edited by: Chuck Penfold

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This article was updated on January 26, 2026 to include the statement from the St. Pauli President.

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Virginia QB Chandler Morris sues NCAA for seventh year of eligibility

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2025 ACC Football Championship - Duke v Virginia
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Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in search of a seventh year of eligibility, his agent tells CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer. Morris filed the suit in a Virginia state court after the NCAA denied in January his request for an eligibility waiver.

The basis of Morris’ waiver request was that he sustained injuries at TCU in 2022 and 2023, and he argued that he should have qualified for medical redshirts in both campaigns. Morris played four games in 2022 and seven games in 2023 after utilizing a redshirt in 2021. His 2020 season at Oklahoma did not count toward his eligibility clock due to the one-time waiver granted to all athletes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Morris stayed healthy each of the last two seasons and played full campaigns at North Texas and Virginia. He led the American conference in passing yards (3,774) and touchdowns (31) in 2024 and transitioned nicely to the ACC, where he guided Virginia to the first 11-win season in program history and a berth in the conference championship game.

If the court grants Morris relief against the NCAA’s eligibility rules, he could return to Virginia in search of College Football Playoff contention. The Cavaliers climbed as high as No. 14 in last season’s CFP Top 25 rankings and would have secured an automatic berth into the bracket had they defeated Duke in the ACC title game.

Morris’ suit against the NCAA is the latest example of an athlete attempting to use the court system to gain additional eligibility. These cases have largely defined the early portion of the college football offseason, and athletes found mixed results.

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A Missississippi judge granted Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss a temporary injunction that will allow him to spend another season with the Rebels on the heels of a stellar debut campaign as one of the SEC’s top signal-callers. Chambliss made a similar petition to Morris, stating that he was physically unable to compete in 2022 due to a respiratory condition.

Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar, meanwhile, was denied injunctive relief in a ruling that served as a major victory for the NCAA. Aguilar’s case was different from the others, as he argued that his years spent in junior college should not count against his NCAA eligibility clock. That was the argument former Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia used to gain an additional year in a landmark case last offseason.

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Vikings Meet with Sleeper Rookie Playmaker

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North Carolina Central RB Chris Mosley in 2025
North Carolina Central Eagles running back Chris Mosley runs the football against the Florida A&M Rattlers during a Week 7 NCAA football game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Saturday, October 11, 2025. © Gerald Thomas / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings have two running backs under contract for 2026: Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. And if they’re in the mood late in the 2026 NFL Draft or in undrafted free agency, they could parley a pre-draft visit with North Carolina Central’s Chris Mosley into a roster spot.

Mosley profiles as a later-round or UDFA option as Minnesota maps life beyond Aaron Jones.

Mosley met with the Vikings and a handful of other NFL teams this week, as the NFL Combine is underway in Indianapolis.

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What Mosley Could Offer a Crowded Vikings Backfield Picture

Here’s one for your UDFA scorecard.

Chris Mosley runs the ball during a game against Florida A&M. Vikings meet with Chris Mosley.
North Carolina Central running back Chris Mosley carries the ball during a Week 7 matchup against Florida A&M on Oct. 11, 2025, at Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. Mosley worked between the tackles as North Carolina Central tested the Rattlers defense during conference play. Mandatory Credit: Gerald Thomas-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

Vikings Meet with Mosley

Minnesota is evidently in on the Mosley sweepstakes. SI.com‘s Justin Melo tweeted Monday:

Nice HBCU Legacy Bowl for North Carolina Central football RB Chris Mosley, who rushed for 1,017 yards + 8 TDs this past season.

Mosley met with the following teams, per source:

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  • Giants
  • Ravens
  • Buccaneers
  • Lions
  • Titans
  • Jets
  • Commanders
  • Vikings
  • Jaguars

Until the Melo tweet, most Vikings fans had never heard of Mosley. Now is as good a time as any to remember the name, especially for a franchise that loves unearthing undrafted free-agent playmakers after the draft.

Who is Chris Mosley?

Mosley is 5’10 and 180 pounds, profiling as more of a scatback, perhaps akin to Jerick McKinnon of Vikings yesteryear. Regarding Minnesota’s 2026 offseason plan, he probably shouldn’t be considered the RB1 solution in a room that already features Jones and Mason.

The rookie logged 1,020 rushing yards last season, with 8 rushing touchdowns, in addition to 30 catches for 324 yards and two receiving touchdowns. He’s versatile.

SI.com‘s Gerald Huggins II on Mosley: “Chris Mosley is a running back with above-average linear speed, combined with toughness and quickness as a runner, despite his below-average size for the position. His frame is lean, with limited bulk, and he shows good change of direction in congestion. He does a good job of fitting through congestion, with an early burst and acceleration.”

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“He shows patience to allow his pullers to set up blocks for him. Mosley welcomes contact, runs behind his pads, and shows adequate forward lean with a pinball-like running style. His contact balance is good, and he sinks into his frame to make timely jump cuts, with good vision to process openings in congestion. He requires refinement as a route-runner, but works best on screens, swings, and check-downs, showing urgency to gain yards after the catch.”

Mosley must have some pizazz, evidenced by the number of NFL teams meeting with a relative unknown before the draft.

Huggins II added, “In pass protection, he lacks stoutness, struggles against blitzers, and does not consistently hold up. Mosley projects as an NFL camp/2nd-tier league starter who will be most impactful in a power-heavy running scheme that allows him to utilize his vision, patience, and toughness.”

“His toughness as a runner and ability to consistently gain positive yardage give him upside to be an RB3 or 4 at the NFL level. He will need to refine his receiving ability and pass protection to be a more serviceable option.”

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Probably Not an Emphatic Solution

From free agency, a few headliners will seek new teams, including running backs Travis Etienne, Kenneth Walker III, Breece Hall, JK Dobbins, and Rachaad White. Most Vikings fans have assumed that if Minnesota wants to improve the rushing offense, they’ll swing for somebody younger than Jones, who will turn 32 during the 2026 regular season.

North Carolina Central helmet sits on the sideline before a game
A North Carolina Central Eagles helmet rests on the sideline before kickoff against Grambling State on Dec. 17, 2016, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. Team equipment sat ready before players took the field for the postseason matchup between the two historically successful programs. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports.

In the draft, notable running backs like Jeremyiah Love, Jadarian Price, Jonah Coleman, Emmett Johnson, and Nick Singleton are expected to fly off the board by the end of Round 4.

Conversely, Mosley isn’t quite like all these men. He’s closer to another version of Vikings running back Zavier Scott, who held the RB3 role in 2025.

Aaron Jones’s Future Looms

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Jones logged just 548 rushing yards in 2025, his lowest total since his rookie season in 2017, when he battled injuries and a crowded Green Bay Packers’ depth chart. He still logged 4.2 yards per carry, but his teammate, Mason, took a more prominent role, probably because of his youth and production.

The veteran tailback is paid handsomely, extended last year by former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah for $10 million per season, a contract that caught some off guard due to Jones’s age. Well, he showed up to 2025, battled injuries, and experienced a dip in efficiency. That’s how it goes for aging halfbacks.

Aaron Jones reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Bears
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones reacts after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Chicago Bears on Nov. 24, 2024, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. Jones celebrated the scoring play as Minnesota built momentum in a divisional road matchup. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images.

Minnesota could release Jones in the next couple of weeks while saving up to $7.75 million. He’s a frequent cut candidate among Vikings fans and analysts. The Vikings could also restructure his contract.

Mosley is nowhere to be found on the Consensus Draft Big Board, and that is over 700 players deep. He’s a sleeper’s sleeper.


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Rolly Romero predicts KO in Devin Haney vs Ryan Garcia rematch: “He sucks”

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Ryan Garcia’s world title win has the boxing world talking about a potential grudge rematch with Devin Haney, but reigning WBA welterweight champion Rolando Romero does not believe it would be competitive.

Garcia dominated Mario Barrios on Saturday night to get his hands on the WBC crown at 147lbs, cruising to a statement unanimous decision victory to finally become a world champion.

That moment came almost two years after his first scheduled world title challenge, when ‘King Ry’ was supposed to fight for the WBC super-lightweight title against Haney, but missed the weight beforehand and thus lost the opportunity to win the belt.

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Garcia pulled off the upset to hand Haney a first career defeat, but the result was then overturned to a no-contest when it was revealed Garcia had tested positive for performance enhancing drug Ostarine.

After serving a one-year ban, Garcia would then lose to Romero in a second bid for a belt. Speaking to K.O. Artist Sports following Garcia’s win, ‘Rolly’ said that Garcia is ‘scared’ to rematch him, after witnessing the Californian call out Shakur Stevenson in his post-fight interview.

“That dude is scared of me, you can’t tell?”

Despite the Stevenson call-out, anticipation is beginning to build for a fierce rematch with Haney, now a unification since the latter beat Brian Norman Jr for the WBO welterweight title. If it happens, Romero predicts that Garcia will get the job done inside of the distance this time around.

“Bro, come on, don’t talk to me about that kind of stuff. Devin sucks.

“Of course [I want to see the Haney-Garcia rematch], I want to see Devin get knocked out.”

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Haney is also being linked to a clash with former WBO lightweight world champion, Keyshawn Davis, for what would be his first outing of 2026.

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Former Alpine driver’s shocking revelation of death threats he received in 2025

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Former Alpine driver Jack Doohan recently came out and revealed that he received death threats during the 2025 season. The Australian driver was demoted by the French team after the Miami GP, and Franco Colapinto was assigned as his replacement.

Jack Doohan had been a part of Alpine Academy since the 2022 season and became the F1 team’s reserve driver starting in 2023. With Esteban Ocon moving to Haas ahead of the 2025 season, Colapinto got his big F1 break and was announced by Alpine to partner Pierre Gasly.

However, just six races into the 2025 season, the Australian was sacked by the Enstone-based team amid poor results since making his debut. Doohan failed to score a single point in the first six races of the season, which included a DNF in Australia and Miami.

Formula 1 Testing in Bahrain - Day 2 - Source: GettyFormula 1 Testing in Bahrain - Day 2 - Source: Getty
Formula 1 Testing in Bahrain – Day 2 – Source: Getty

The former Alpine driver speaking on Netflix’s Drive to Survive docuseries detailed the death threats he received ahead of the Miami GP. As reported by The Times, the French driver said,

“I got serious death threats for this [Miami] Grand Prix, saying they’re going to kill me here, if I’m not out of the car. I had six or seven emails saying if I am still in the car by Miami, all my limbs will be cut off.“

“Wednesday, I was there with my f***ing girlfriend and my trainer, and I’ve got three armed men around me — I had to call my police escort to come and get it under control. I wasn’t able to enjoy being a Formula 1 driver, something I dreamt of for so long. So yeah, it’s pretty s**t,” added Jack Doohan

Franco Colapinto, who replaced Doohan, was signed on a race-by-race basis. Going into 2026, the Argentine had been confirmed on a one-year contract with Pierre Gasly as his teammate.


Former Alpine driver Jack Doohan joins Haas as reserve driver for the 2026 season

After being reverted to a reserve driver role for the remainder of the 2025 season, Jack Doohan came out earlier this month and announced that he will be joining the Haas F1 team as the reserve driver for the upcoming season. Speaking about the opportunity to join Haas, Doohan said,

“I’m thrilled to be joining TGR Haas F1 Team. It’s the ideal place to continue my Formula 1 career. I would like to thank the team for giving me the opportunity to grow and take on the great challenge of 2026 together. I’m eager to begin working with the team and collaborating on a successful season.”

The Australian driver in the reserve driver role will partner with full-time drivers Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman to form the 2026 driver lineup

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