After "Greenland Crisis"... France Confirms: "No Intention to Boycott 2026 World Cup... Sport and Politics Must Be Separated"

The French government has confirmed it has no intention of boycotting the 2026 World Cup, scheduled to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, despite increasing European calls to boycott the event due to political disagreements with the US administration.

This statement came from French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari, who said: “Currently, our ministry has no intention of boycotting this major anticipated tournament. At present, I am not anticipating events or pre-judging what might happen, but I have also heard voices from some political blocs. I emphasize the necessity of separating sports and politics. The World Cup is an extremely important moment for all sports enthusiasts.”

These remarks come amid escalating diplomatic tensions between European nations and the United States over the policies of US President Donald Trump, including the issue of Greenland, which has drawn criticism in European capitals and led some voices in countries like Germany to call for a World Cup boycott as a “means of political pressure.”

The conflict between President Donald Trump's administration and Europe is rooted in several political and economic issues. The President imposed customs duties on some European countries and reopened discussions on sensitive international trade deals, which caused tensions with European capitals.

Furthermore, Trump expressed his desire for Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, to become part of the United States, stating that “no country or group of countries is capable of securing Greenland, except for the United States.”

It is worth noting that the 2026 World Cup competitions will kick off on June 11, 2026, and run until July 19, in what will be the largest tournament in World Cup history, featuring 48 national teams.