2026 World Cup: Trump & Boycott Threat | Roya News

• Some recall the experience of Russia’s exclusion from international competitions after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and believe that any similar move by the United States could impose huge legal and political challenges on world football.

Concerns are rising in European football about the possibility of boycotting the 2026 World Cup being held in the United States, in light of a series of unexpected developments related to US President Donald Trump, especially his provocative statements regarding the island of Greenland.

Senior officials at European associations are asking critical questions about how to deal with worst-case scenarios, after recent events showed that football is no longer isolated from politics. Concerns are clearly evident that the political involvement of the United States may cast a shadow over the tournament, especially after the close relationship between Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Some recall the experience of Russia being excluded from international competitions after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and believe that any similar move by the United States could pose huge legal and political challenges to world football.

Despite these concerns, the French Minister of Sports, Marina Ferrari, confirms that her country is not planning to boycott the tournament yet, while the German Minister of Sports has referred any decision to the “competent sports federations.”

Estimates within the corridors of the European Football Association (UEFA) indicate that taking any decisive position will remain linked to the development of events, with the need to move cautiously to avoid any diplomatic or sporting crisis.

The most important message from this crisis is that international football has become forced to adapt to a complex political environment, and that previous assumptions about sporting independence are no longer fully valid, which makes flexibility and strategic planning essential in the coming years.