World Cup 2026: Baerbock responds to Infantino’s Russia push with a brief sentence | EUROtoday

The President of the UN General Assembly and former Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) reacted distantly to the push by the President of the World Football Association (FIFA), Gianni Infantino, to permit Russia to participate in worldwide soccer tournaments once more. “As far as I know, the Russian war of aggression is unfortunately not over yet,” she instructed the editorial community Germany (RND).

Baerbock rejects a boycott of the 2026 World Cup. A boycott “would also affect Canada and Mexico, which are also the organizers,” Baerbock instructed the RND. “I also don’t believe in carrying out necessary political debates on the backs of athletes who have worked for years towards a championship.”

There are requires a boycott of the World Cup in gentle of US President Donald Trump’s annexation threats in opposition to Greenland and Canada in addition to the brutal crackdown on immigrants.

However, Baerbock referred to as on associations and politicians to behave rigorously. Associations and officers “have a duty to ensure that their own award criteria such as freedom of the press, non-discrimination or entry regulations are not trampled on during major sporting events,” mentioned Baerbock. “And at this level there is of course a political responsibility not to allow yourself to be exploited as a claqueur in the stands, but rather to position yourself clearly in advance.”

However, in response to Christiane Schenderlein, Minister of State for Sport and Volunteering, the federal authorities has already spoken out in opposition to a boycott. As justification, she pointed to the German authorities’s overseas coverage line in the direction of the USA. “Sport must not be exploited for this purpose,” it mentioned.