Kabarettist and football fan Serdar Somuncu stated that the World Cup, set to take place in Canada, Mexico, and the USA, holds no appeal for him. He expressed pleasure over the early exits of both Germany and Turkey, according to his comments to the “Neuß-Grevensbroicher Zeitung” (Wednesday).
Somuncu emphasized his total anti-nationalist stance, adding that he dislikes national flags and national anthems entirely because he finds them hypocritical. He pointed out the inconsistency in modern society: when it comes to football, French people can suddenly be fine with the presence of the “Senegalese B-team.” Yet, outside the pitch, particularly in the “banlieues” where many people from North African countries and former colonies live, they are often treated as “second-class citizens.” In the world of sport, this discrimination is supposedly erased, leading everyone to seem equally good.
Somuncu characterized the recent escalation in debates surrounding singing national anthems and the role of players of immigrant descent in Germany as mere pragmatism. He noted that the swift shifts in public opinion, evidenced by some racially charged reactions following Jonathan Tah’s missed penalty, demonstrate how quickly these conversations can pivot. He concluded that regardless of the outcome of any World Cup, he will feel neither joy nor sadness.
Born in Turkey as a child, Somuncu later moved to Germany. He is a dedicated supporter of the Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach.
