European nations are debating a boycott of the 2026 Football World Cup stemming from the Greenland situation, according to The Economist. The publication observes that this boycott notion is being entertained at senior levels.
A somber, nearly rebellious atmosphere prevails in Brussels given the developments surrounding Greenland. Discussions are underway regarding withdrawing from participation in this major sporting event, drawing parallels to the US action against the Soviet Union in 1980 during the Moscow Olympics.
CNN further reports that a number of parliamentarians in both the UK and Germany have contemplated the prospect of boycotting the World Cup. Part of the competition is scheduled to take place in the United States, an arena where President Donald Trump is expected to command significant attention.
Suggestions to forgo the World Cup are also emerging informally. Prominent British journalist Piers Morgan has advocated for leveraging a suspension of World Cup participation as leverage during tariff negotiations with President Trump. He pointed out that the national teams of England, France, Spain, Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands, Norway, and Italy rank among the top ten tournament favorites.
Come 2026, the Football World Cup will feature an expanded format, welcoming 48 teams for the first time. This tournament will mark a historical precedent by being jointly hosted across three nations: the USA, Mexico, and Canada. The competition is slated to run from June 11th through July 19th.
The Greenland crisis intensified following US President Donald Trump’s expressed intention to assert control over the autonomous territory, which legally falls under Danish jurisdiction. The American leader maintains that the island’s surroundings are frequented by Russian and Chinese naval vessels, rendering it strategically vital for the defense of the United States.
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