World Cup boycott? Bayern boss Dreesen with a clear message | OneFootball

The discussion about a possible boycott of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is gathering pace in Germany. While individual voices are calling for a boycott, FC Bayern is taking a clear stance

Jan-Christian Dreesen has spoken out clearly against a boycott of the upcoming World Cup in response to statements by Oke Göttlich, President of FC St. Pauli and Vice President of the DFB and DFL, who recently initiated a fundamental debate on whether the national team should stay away from the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico

„There has never been a World Cup that has been boycotted,“ Dreesen made clear at the DFL New Year’s reception in Frankfurt. He described Göttlich’s demands as a „single voice“ and added unequivocally: „I don’t see why we shouldn’t take part in this World Cup.“

Watzke also considers boycott debate premature

photo: IMAGO

Dreesen received backing from DFL President Hans-Joachim Watzke. The managing director of Borussia Dortmund explained that the time for a boycott discussion was „not ripe at the moment“ and that such a debate was therefore „completely out of place“. This means that there does not currently appear to be a majority in favour of a tough stance on the World Cup within the governing bodies of the DFL and DFB

Göttlich had previously struck a very different tone, demanding answers from the top echelons of German soccer and questioning whether the national team should participate at all given the political situation in the USA. „The life of a professional footballer is no greater than the lives of a great many people in various regions who are currently being directly or indirectly attacked or threatened by the World Cup host,“ he explained

Göttlich referred to the aggressive foreign and domestic policy of US President Donald Trump, including tensions with Canada, threats against Greenland and controversial operations by the US immigration authority ICE. For Göttlich, the time has long since come for a serious discussion about a boycott

FC Bayern relies on sporting continuity

At FC Bayern, on the other hand, the line is clear: major sporting events should not be politicized prematurely. Dreesen’s statement makes it clear that the record champions see no reason to question their participation in the World Cup. The Munich club is thus clearly positioning itself against boycott demands and is focusing on continuity – both in sporting thinking and in international competition

It remains to be seen whether the debate will become more heated in the coming months, but one thing is certain: FC Bayern has positioned itself clearly and early on.