Could European countries really decide to boycott the World Cup this summer? The tight bond between Infantino’s leadership and the Trump administration means European football cannot look away. Why should the US be treated differently if it sent in the troops, and why should its part in the World Cup be indulged into the bargain? Trump has wedded himself to the World Cup project since his first term, naturally making mention of his own hard work in steering the bid when it succeeded in 2018. Initiatives such as the hugely popular petition in the Netherlands, urging a boycott of the World Cup, suggest public sentiment would be supportive of decisive action if the unthinkable came to pass.

Source: Irish Examiner January 23, 2026 04:42 UTC