Sports Minister Marina Ferrari said Tuesday evening that France is not currently considering withdrawing from the tournament, which is set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. While leaving room for future developments, she stressed that no such move is under discussion at this stage.
“At the moment, there is no desire from the ministry to boycott this major, much-anticipated competition,” Ferrari told reporters, adding that she did not want to prejudge how the international situation might evolve.
The minister emphasized the need to keep sport and politics separate, underscoring the significance of the event for athletes and fans alike. She described the 2026 World Cup as a landmark moment for global sport and for football supporters around the world.
The comments come as Trump’s renewed push to bring Greenland under U.S. control has unsettled relations between Washington and several European allies, including Denmark, which governs the Arctic territory. With the World Cup scheduled to begin in June 2026 across North America, the diplomatic strain has sparked debate in parts of Europe about whether sporting events should be used as leverage.
In France, the idea of a boycott has been raised by figures on the political left. Eric Coquerel, a left-wing lawmaker, argued that France should at least consider its options, questioning whether participation would be appropriate under the circumstances. In a social media post, he suggested that hosting responsibilities could be refocused on Mexico and Canada if necessary.
France, a two-time men’s World Cup champion, most recently finished as runner-up at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, losing a dramatic final to Argentina. For now, however, French authorities appear keen to keep the focus on the sporting stakes of 2026 rather than on escalating geopolitical disputes.