German Football Federation President calls for player restraint on politics during World Cup

Germany’s Rudi Voeller Urges Players to Avoid Political Statements Ahead of 2026 World Cup

German sporting director Rudi Voeller has advised members of the upcoming World Cup squad to refrain from making political statements during the tournament. Speaking at Germany’s pre-World Cup camp in northern Bavaria, Voeller stated that players should maintain a separation between sport and politics.

Voeller clarified that there would be no specialized media training for players ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, unlike in the lead-up to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He emphasized that players are not under a gag order but encouraged to keep their actions “somewhat separate” from politics.

Voeller referenced Germany’s experience at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where players made headlines for covering their mouths in pre-match photos due to concerns over FIFA’s threat to sanction players for wearing “OneLove” armbands. He acknowledged that some commentators suggested this contributed to Germany’s poor performance at the tournament.

Voeller stated that he would leave it up to the media to report on political issues, emphasizing that athletes taking political stands often have little impact. He pointed to the 1980 Moscow Olympics boycott by the United States and other nations as an example.

Germany is set to face Finland in their final pre-tournament friendly on home soil on Sunday. Coach Julian Nagelsmann confirmed that injured veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will not be available for this match but will participate at the World Cup.

Source: Al Jazeera