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France’s sports minister questioned whether the country would consider boycotting the 2026 FIFA World Cup in response to the United States’ recent “framework” agreement to control part of Greenland.
French Sports, Youth and Community Affairs Minister Marina Ferrari told reporters this week that the country had “no desire” to skip the cup, which takes place in North America this year.
“As it stands now, there is no desire from the ministry for a boycott of this major competition,” Ferrari said. “Now I don’t want to predict what might happen, but I’ve also heard voices raised from certain political blocs. I’m someone who believes in keeping sports separate [from politics]. The World Cup is an extremely important moment for those who love sports.”
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The Greenlandic flag flies in Nuuk, Greenland, January 20, 2026. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
French left-wing politician Éric Coquerel has called for the US to be stripped of World Cup hosting rights and has proposed a boycott of France.
“Seriously, you imagine having to play the World Cup in a country that attacks its ‘neighbors’, threatens to invade Greenland and rides roughshod over international law?” Coquerel told reporters.
Trump announced on Truth Social on Wednesday that the framework for an agreement has been created so that the US can gain control over parts of Greenland.
“Based on a very productive meeting that I had with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, we have formed the framework of a future agreement with respect to Greenland and indeed the entire Arctic region,” he wrote.
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United States President Donald Trump receives the FIFA Peace Prize from FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the official draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 5, 2025 in Washington, DC (Emilee Chinn/FIFA via Getty Images)
“This solution, if implemented, will be a great solution for the United States and all NATO nations,” Trump wrote in the post. “Based on this understanding, I will not impose the tariffs that were planned to take effect on February 1. Further discussions are underway on the Golden Dome as it relates to Greenland.”
Speaking at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Switzerland on Thursday, Trump worked to indicate that he would not use force to conquer Greenland.
Despite similar calls for sanctions in response to Trump’s foreign policy, the United States has also not been punished by any major sports body for its recent intervention in Venezuela.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has responded to calls to bar the United States and its athletes from the upcoming Winter Olympics because of the intervention in Venezuela. The committee ruled out any punishment for the United States
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“As a global organization, the IOC has to manage a complex reality. The IOC has to deal with the current political context and the latest developments in the world,” the IOC said in a statement to Pakinomist Digital.
“The ability to bring athletes together, regardless of where they come from, is fundamental to the future of value-based, truly global sport that can give hope to the world. For this reason, the IOC cannot get directly involved in political affairs or conflicts between countries, as these fall outside our remit. This is the realm of politics.”
