Söder warns the German national team against repeating the Qatar scenario at the 2026 World Cup
Markus Söder, the Prime Minister of the German state of Bavaria, issued a clear and direct warning to the German national team and football officials in the country, urging them to avoid getting involved in the political controversies that may surround the 2026 World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
A firm rejection of boycott calls
In remarks reported by the widely circulated German newspaper Bild, Söder categorically rejected the growing calls to boycott the upcoming World Cup or to use it as a platform for political protest. These calls stem from concerns among some groups in Germany and Europe regarding immigration policies and tightened border controls linked to the United States, particularly in light of the ongoing debates surrounding President Donald Trump's administration and its potential impact on hosting the tournament.
Zoder said clearly: “The national team needs full support and calm. Involving the team in discussions about external and political circumstances only leads to distraction, division, and weakened morale, and this ultimately serves no one’s interest.”.
The specter of the Qatar 2022 World Cup disaster
This Bavarian warning comes at a highly sensitive time for German football, as the national team seeks to regain its lost global prestige. Söder bases his warning on the painful realities experienced by German fans during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In that tournament, the German Football Association and the players became overly preoccupied with human rights and political issues, such as the captain's armband controversy and the group photos that carried protest messages, leading to a loss of focus on the pitch.
The result was disastrous by all accounts, as the German national team exited the tournament in the first round for the second consecutive time, following their 2018 debacle, in a group that included Japan, Spain, and Costa Rica. The German press at the time, including Bild and Kicker, unanimously agreed that preoccupation with politics was the primary reason behind the players' mental distraction and the unexpected defeat against Japan.
The philosophy of change through success
Söder offered an alternative vision for dealing with global events, pointing out that real influence comes from sporting excellence, not moralizing. He added: “It’s pointless to try to stir up a debate about boycotts. It’s better to change the world for the better through our own success and strength, rather than always standing on the sidelines and giving moralizing lectures. Our motto should be to focus on the game, and only then can we achieve something tangible.”.
The importance of focusing on the 2026 World Cup
The 2026 World Cup holds paramount strategic importance for the German national team, as it will be the first tournament to feature 48 teams. Following a series of disappointing performances in recent major tournaments, German football is under pressure to prove that these setbacks were merely temporary stumbles and not a collapse of the system that has crowned the nation with four World Cup titles.
The German official concluded his remarks with a clear wish: "I hope the team will be allowed to focus solely on football," referring to the need to protect the players from media and political pressures that could hinder their progress towards competing for the title in North America.
