Former Germany coach Joachim Löw has expressed concerns about security at the World Cup, which is being hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
«We had debates before the 2018 World Cup in Russia and called for a boycott before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. But playing in a country that is actively at war is even more dangerous,» Low told the newspaper. Cologne Express newspaper in comments published Tuesday.
“The political situation completely overshadows the tournament.”
The US-Israeli war with Iran is ongoing, and a wave of violence followed the Mexican military’s killing of cartel chief Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho,” last month.
Löw, who led Germany to the World Cup title in Brazil in 2014, spoke Monday evening at an event focusing on previous World Cups, featuring Rainer Bonhof, who helped West Germany win the 1974 tournament, and other World Cup winners.
Towards the end of their conversation, attention turned to the upcoming tournament.
“I don’t even know if you should play at all,” Bonhof said to loud applause, Express reported.
“Given the current circumstances, for me only Canada is a neutral country,” Bonhof said of the co-hosts. «I don’t want to boycott any World Cup; we love football too much. But we really need to think about safety measures, which we haven’t thought about yet.»
Bonhof, who is currently chairman of Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach, said he would have “no urge to go to Mexico” because of the security situation there.
The German Football Federation ruled out a boycott of the World Cup in January, despite calls from within to send a message to US President Donald Trump. Lihat juga dhjg. That was before the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.
Published on March 18, 2026
