Germany’s sporting director Rudi Völler has strongly dismissed suggestions of a boycott for the 2026 World Cup, arguing that political absences achieve nothing and harm the sport.
Germany national team director Rudi Völler has dismissed calls for a boycott of the upcoming 2026 World Cup in North America.
Speaking amid renewed political debates, Völler argued that such gestures are historically ineffective and serve only to penalize the athletes and fans.
He stated: “A boycott achieves nothing… we saw that in the past and it was always the wrong way.”
The legendary striker emphasized that football should remain a platform for dialogue rather than a tool for political isolation.
Völler insists that Germany’s focus must remain on sporting excellence and engagement. He warned against repeating past mistakes, adding:
“We have to go there, compete, and represent our values on the pitch… talking about not going is completely the wrong approach.”