Germany reportedly threatens to boycott 2026 World Cup over Trump’s tariffs

A member of the Christian Democratic Union in the Bundestag, Jurgen Hardt, has claimed that Germany is considering boycotting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

United States President Donald Trump threatened to steadily increase tariffs on European countries opposing his move to acquire Greenland, escalating a dispute over the semi-autonomous Danish territory he has long coveted.

In response, some European countries have deployed military personnel to the disputed land to protect it in case of aggression from the US.

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As part of measures to counter the tariffs, Jurgen Hardt claimed that withdrawing the national team from the World Cup in the US is being considered by the Germans.

According to Hardt, the World Cup is very dear to Trump, and a boycott could influence efforts to curb the president’s ambitions.

Speaking in an interview with German outlet BILD, Hardt stated that boycotting the 2026 World Cup would "bring Trump to his senses" on Greenland and described it as a "last resort," while acknowledging "how important the World Cup is to Trump.”

However, there has been no official communication from the German government or the football federation to confirm the claims.

Reports suggest that other European heavyweights in football could join the conversation if alternative measures to counter the tariffs fail to yield positive results ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

SB/JE

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