The president of Bundesliga club FC St. Pauli, Oke Gottlich, has called for a serious discussion about boycotting the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to recent actions by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Gottlich, who also serves as a vice-president of the German Football Federation, said the current political climate warrants a deeper look at whether the global football spectacle should proceed as planned in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
St. Pauli chief says it’s time to debate FIFA World Cup boycott
In an interview with German media, Gottlich made clear that the idea of a boycott should not be dismissed lightly.
“The time has come [to] seriously consider and discuss this,” Gottlich said. “What were the justifications for the boycotts of the Olympic Games in the 1980s? By my reckoning, the potential threat is greater now than it was then. We need to have this discussion.”
Gottlich’s comments reflect broader unease among some football fans and officials about the political environment surrounding the hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Reports indicate that political tensions in the United States have already contributed to protests and even ticket cancellations linked to politics and safety concerns, with thousands of fans withdrawing from ticket plans in recent months amid a hashtag-driven boycott movement.
Oke Gottlich questions values and boundaries in sport
Gottlich also voiced deeper concerns about how sport intersects with societal values, and he challenged both football administrators and political leaders to clarify where “taboos and boundaries” should lie.
“As organizations and society, we’re forgetting how to set taboos and boundaries and how to defend values. Taboos are an essential part of our stance,” he continued.
“Is a taboo crossed when someone threatens? Is a taboo crossed when someone attacks? When people die? I would like to know from Donald Trump when he has reached his taboo, and I would like to know from Bernd Neuendorf and Gianni Infantino,” Gottlich concluded.
The broader context includes political actions by Trump that critics argue could affect perceptions of the World Cup host nation and fan participation.
Political rhetoric about safety and internal U.S. policy has at times spilled into discussions about match locations and travel, prompting debates over how politicised events should be when international sport is meant to unify fans from across the world.
Despite Gottlich’s call for debate, resistance to a boycott is expected among many football leaders, and the prospect of full withdrawal from the tournament remains uncertain as the global game prepares for its biggest event in 2026.
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