Kaktus.media has gathered relevant information on this matter.
Current Situation
According to The Washington Post (WP), calls to boycott the upcoming World Cup have started to emerge. It is worth noting that this tournament will feature 48 teams for the first time, whereas from 1998 to 2022, there were 32.The World Cup will take place in three countries: the USA, Canada, and Mexico, and it is the actions of the USA that raise the most concern.
Reasons for Discontent
The discontent stems from the actions of U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Venezuela and Greenland, as well as incidents in Minneapolis, where Immigration Police were responsible for the deaths of two individuals.Possible Actions
Some football officials in Germany and France have already expressed the possibility of boycotting the tournament. Similar opinions are being voiced in the British Parliament. The Economist reports that the issue is even being discussed at the level of the European Parliament in Brussels.Popular Dutch television host Teun van de Keuken has launched a petition calling on the Dutch authorities to withdraw from the tournament, having already gathered over 140,000 signatures, as reported by Diario AS.
Joseph Blatter, the former FIFA president, has also called for a boycott, claiming that due to U.S. immigration policy, it is better to watch the championship on television.
He noted: "Everything looks better on TV. And be prepared that if you don't please the officials upon arrival, you may be sent home immediately."
History of Boycotts
History has seen instances of boycotts, although most of them pertain to qualifying tournaments. For example, all African teams boycotted the qualification for the 1966 World Cup in England due to unfair allocation of spots.Additionally, in 1938, Argentina and Uruguay refused to participate in the World Cup in France for political reasons, believing that the tournament should alternate between South America and Europe.
Likelihood of a Boycott
It is unlikely that a boycott will take place. The German Football Association (DFB) has already stated that it is not currently considering the possibility of boycotting the 2026 World Cup.In a statement, the DFB clarified that discussions about sports policy should occur within the organization, not in public. "We believe in the unifying power of sports and the potential impact of the World Cup on society," the association's representatives added.
French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari also noted that at this stage, there are no intentions to boycott this important event, although she acknowledges that opinions about a boycott are being voiced in certain political circles.
Fans' Opinions
According to information from Roya News, around 17,000 fans allegedly canceled their tickets for the World Cup overnight following calls for a boycott; however, there is no official confirmation of this information.Nevertheless, fan dissatisfaction with ticket prices is a reality.
Official U.S. Response
So far, there have been no official comments regarding a possible boycott from the U.S.However, Politico reports that U.S. authorities are considering using the World Cup and the Olympic Games as tools of foreign policy and diplomacy, developing a corresponding "Guide to Sports Diplomacy."
This document outlines methods for using such major events to achieve diplomatic goals.
