The build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been controversial, and US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on countries has cast doubt on Germany‘s participation. There are just five months until the international tournament kicks off in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
The US President is seeking to acquire Greenland for security reasons, prompting European leaders to hit back at his plans. The largest island in the world is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, and its foreign policy and defence are handled by Denmark.
Trump has threatened to impose a 10% tariff on all goods imported into the US from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland. This could have repercussions on this summer’s World Cup, as one of the most successful nations in the competition’s history could withdraw.
Trump Threat Risks Germany Pulling out of World Cup
German politician Jürgen Hardt (CDU) claimed in an interview with BILD that Germany could withdraw from the World Cup. While he noted that it is considered a “last resort” to get Trump to “see sense.”
Trump’s politics have been a major talking point ahead of the tournament, as have concerns over security in the US. There has also been massive backlash over ticket prices, although FIFA claim Germany is one of seven countries, aside from the hosts, that have submitted the most ticket applications.
There is now a possibility that Julian Nagelsmann’s men will not take part in the World Cup if Trump insists on acquiring Greenland. There had already been suggestions from Spanish government officials that Luis de la Fuente’s European champions could also boycott the tournament.
Germany is the joint-second-most successful team in World Cup history, having won the tournament on four occasions. The European nation is set to travel to the US for an international friendly on June 6th, just days before the competition officially kicks off.
Germany Could Become 10th Team to Boycott a World Cup
If Germany were to sit out this summer’s World Cup, it would be the 10th time a nation has boycotted the world’s biggest football competition. These countries have made the decision for various reasons, including political and preference-based factors.
The inaugural world champions, Uruguay, declined to defend their crown in 1934 in protest after several European countries refused to travel to South America for the 1930 event, which they hosted. This is the only time the defending champions haven’t participated; instead, they sat at home while the tournament took place in Italy.
The Uruguayans weren’t the only nations to snub that year’s World Cup, as England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland were also absent. The Home Nations decided to instead prioritise their Home Championship, which they viewed as more prestigious at the time.
Argentina joined Uruguay in boycotting the 1938 World Cup after it was decided to host it in Europe rather than South America. This meant the 1930 finalists didn’t compete at the event eight years on from their meeting.
The seventh nation to withdraw from the competition was India, which claimed to have opted out because it didn’t believe the tournament was overly important. This is debated, though, as reports suggest the country was refused participation because its players played barefoot at the time.
Finances were the reason Turkey rejected the opportunity to participate in 1950, as the country was put off by the costs of sending its team to South America. It would be 24 years before another nation boycotted the World Cup, and that was the USSR in 1974.
The USSR hadn’t sealed their place in the tournament but were disqualified after refusing to play the second leg of a World Cup qualifier against Chile in November 1973. Their refusal was due to the fixture being played in the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile, shortly after the CIA-backed military coup had overthrown the socialist government of Salvador Allende.
