A citizens’ petition has emerged in the Netherlands calling for a boycott of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA if the United States takes over Greenland. The initiative was sent to the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) and asks that a clear message be sent to FIFA and the US president that sport must not legitimise the violation of international law. Although it is a citizens’ action without institutional support, its political message is not insignificant: the idea of a boycott is already circulating among the European public. The petition was initiated by Dutch citizen activist Rob Wilstra, reports Teleskop.
The petition does not call for an immediate boycott, but sets a condition – if the US takes over Greenland, the Netherlands should withdraw from the world event. This directly links the World Cup to Washington’s foreign policy and turns it into a question of values, not just sport. This is precisely the key: a global spectacle cannot be a neutral stage if it serves as a cover for aggressive power politics.
Donald Trump has repeatedly shown contempt for international rules, alliances and the sovereignty of others. From threats to Greenland, to trade blackmail, to the instrumentalization of military and economic power. His policy is based on the message that the will of the United States, or rather the will of Donald Trump himself, is above others, as he himself has repeatedly said openly. Europe often reacts lukewarmly in this context, hoping that by giving in, it will calm the pressure. Experience, however, shows the opposite.
That is why the message of the Dutch petition is important, regardless of the number of signatures. The world should not give legitimacy to a policy that openly disrespects others, and sport – precisely because of its symbolic power – must not become a means of politically promoting such an approach. If the World Cup serves to strengthen the image of power, then participation becomes a political act. And a policy that does not recognize borders does not deserve global applause.
You can sign the petition here.
Europeans should not be naive and believe Trump’s possible promises that nothing will come of the annexation of Greenland. It is a completely realistic scenario in which, in order to preserve the appearance of stability and hold the World Cup, it would temporarily deny such intentions, and then, after the global sporting spectacle is over, resort to forceful measures. That is precisely why participation in the championship also carries political responsibility.
Foto: Petities.nl
