German Sports Minister Christiane Schenderlein (CDU) made her stance clear in a Wednesday interview with the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. She said that the federal government is united in its opposition to a boycott of the 2026 FIFA World Cup: “If it’s about a boycott, we do not support it”.
Schenderlein explained that the government’s view is that sports should not be used as a political tool. “Sport must not be instrumentalised”. She added that the upcoming World Cup will not be held only in the United States but also in Canada and Mexico, which further diminishes any opportunity to manipulate international relations.
She also recalled the controversy surrounding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when former Interior Minister Nancy Faeser stood on the pitch in a “One Love” sash and the German team was silenced on the field. “That was not a good situation” Schenderlein said.
Regarding the upcoming Olympic Games in Italy, Schenderlein remarked that allowing only individual athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete is a sensible approach. However, she criticised the decision of the International Paralympic Committee that athletes from both countries can re‑enter the Paralympics without restrictions. “This, in turn, I see with concern, because it creates a possibility for influence once athletes are under an official flag” she explained.
Schenderlein wished the German delegation “all the best and many sporting successes”. She avoided giving a concrete medal target, noting instead that “the competition never sleeps, and surprises are still common in the Olympics”.