The French government has made it clear that it is not in favour of boycotting the 2026 World Cup, despite rising political tensions linked to former US president Donald Trump and his controversial statements about Greenland.
France’s sports minister, Marina Ferrari, said there is currently no intention within the government to support a boycott of the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
She stressed the importance of keeping sport separate from politics and described the World Cup as “an extremely important moment for those who love sport.”
Calls for stronger action came from far-left French politician Eric Coquerel, who questioned how France could participate if the US continued to threaten Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory.
Veteran football coach Claude Le Roy also suggested African teams should consider a boycott, citing concerns over US foreign policy.
Germany has taken a different stance. Its sports minister said decisions on participation should be left entirely to football authorities like the German Football Association and FIFA, rather than politicians.
The situation adds to growing discomfort among fans over FIFA’s close ties with US politics, especially after Gianni Infantino awarded Trump a special “FIFA Peace Prize” last year. Many supporters feel football is drifting too far from the game itself a concern explored further in When FIFA Stops Talking Football, Fans Start Cringing.
At the same time, frustration is also building around the commercial side of the tournament, with rising ticket prices and costs for fans, despite record revenues a topic discussed in The World Cup’s getting richer… so why are fans paying more?
For now, France appears committed to competing, while the broader debate over politics, power, and money in football continues to grow louder.
