January 22 – Amid tensions between the United States and Europe over Greenland, France’s sports minister has for the time being ruled out a boycott of the 2026 World Cup.
“At the moment we are speaking, there is no desire from the ministry to boycott this major, much-anticipated competition,” sports minister Marina Ferrari told reporters. “That said, I am not prejudging what might happen.”
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump ruled out using force to take control of Greenland, but stuck to his demand for control over the Danish territory during a speech in Davos, Switzerland. He later said NATO agreed to a ‘framework’ of a ‘Future Arctic Deal.’
The United States, Mexico and Canada will co-host the 2026 World Cup, but amid shifting geopolitics, voices have risen to consider a boycott of the tournament by European countries. America will host 78 of the 104 fixtures in the expanded 48-team men’s World Cup. The Guardian also reported that European football chiefs discussed a joint response to Trump over Greenland.
French leftist lawmaker Eric Coquerel argued that France, a two-time men’s World Cup champion, should consider boycotting the tournament. On social media he wrote: “Seriously, can we really imagine going to play the footie World Cup in a country that attacks its ‘neighbours,’ threatens to invade Greenland, undermines international law, wants to torpedo the UN?”
Les Bleus will play their Group I matches on the East Coast in Boston, Philadelphia and New Jersey. They finished as runners-up at the 2022 World Cup, losing the final on penalties to Argentina after a 3-3 draw.
In Scotland, the Scottish National Party’s Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, said: “Without being flippant, we have boycotted the World Cup proactively since 1998 and I’m not entirely sure that’s a route that we want to go down again,” Flynn said. “Instead, I think we need serious and committed international dialogue with our allies on the European continent.”
In England earlier this week, MPs Simon Hoare and Kate Osborne called on the home nations to boycott the tournament. England and Scotland have qualified while Wales and Northern Ireland are in the playoffs.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at [email protected]