Sports Minister Christiane Schenderlein (CDU) made her position on a possible boycott of the 2026 FIFA World Cup clear. “Within the federal government we have agreed that we do not support a boycott” she told the Süddeutsche Zeitung on Wednesday.
She stressed that the government treats international relations-such as its ties to the United States-as a policy area where sport should not be used as a political tool. Moreover, the World Cup will be staged not only in the United States but also in Canada and Mexico, so a boycott would be misplaced. Schenderlein also referred to the controversy surrounding the 2022 tournament in Qatar, when former Interior Minister Nancy Faeser appeared in the stands wearing a “One Love” band and the German team had to silence itself on the field. “That was not a good situation that emerged” she said.
Regarding the Olympic Games in Italy, Schenderlein said that allowing only individual athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete is a sensible solution. The International Paralympic Committee, however, has decided that athletes from both countries can participate in the upcoming Paralympics without any restrictions. “I view this critically as well” she added, noting that there could be undue influence when athletes compete under an official flag.
Schenderlein wished the German team plenty of success and many victories, but she did not set a specific medal target. “It is clear that the competition is fierce, and the Olympics are always full of surprises” the CDU official said.
