DFB-Boss Rudi Völler has definitively ruled out any boycott of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in Canada, Mexico, and the USA starting in June 2026. Völler stated at a dpa editorial conference in Berlin that discussing a boycott is "senseless" and only harms the athletes, emphasizing his long-standing opposition to such actions. This stance comes after St. Pauli club chairman Oke Göttlich suggested considering a boycott due to societal issues, arguing that football cannot operate in isolation from broader societal concerns. Völler desires a World Cup focused on the sport itself, asserting that players have the freedom to express their opinions but not immediately before a match, referencing the 2022 World Cup's rainbow armband controversy. The German national team, aiming for their fifth title, will face Curacao, Ecuador, and Ivory Coast in Group E.