The beautiful game is getting ugly. In a move that could shatter the 2026 World Cup, a top official from the German Football Association (DFB) has openly called for a boycott of the tournament, citing the erratic and aggressive foreign policy of US President Donald Trump.

Oke Göttlich, a DFB Vice-President and the President of cult club FC St. Pauli, dropped the bombshell in an interview with the Hamburger Morgenpost. He argued that Trump's recent threats to annex Greenland and slap tariffs on European allies have crossed a "red line" that football cannot ignore.

"We Cannot Be Apolitical"

"What were the justifications for the boycotts of the Olympic Games in the 1980s?" Göttlich asked. "By my reckoning, the potential threat is greater now than it was then." His comments reflect a growing unease in Europe about lending legitimacy to a US administration that is openly hostile to international norms.

For Kenyan football fans, a World Cup without Germany—four-time champions—would be like a wedding without the cake. Germany is a powerhouse, and their absence would delegitimize the entire tournament. Moreover, it raises the specter of a domino effect, with other European nations potentially joining the protest.

• The Proponent: Oke Göttlich, DFB Vice-President.
• The Reason: Trump's "Greenland" ambition and trade wars.
• The Impact: Potential collapse of the 2026 tournament's credibility.

FIFA's Nightmare

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, a known ally of Trump, now faces a diplomatic nightmare. The organization has spent years trying to separate sport from politics, but Göttlich's intervention forces the issue back onto the pitch. "Qatar was too political for everyone, and now we're completely apolitical?" Göttlich challenged.

The ball is now in the court of the German FA's president, Bernd Neuendorf. Will they heed the call of conscience, or will the allure of the trophy outweigh the principles of politics?