Khaberni - The Netherlands has witnessed an escalation in calls to boycott the 2026 World Cup, after more than 170,000 people signed a petition demanding that the national team does not participate in the tournament.
According to RTL Nieuws, the petition was presented to the Dutch parliament, where the initiative was led by journalist Teun van de Keuken, who considered the national team's participation unacceptable under the policies of Donald Trump, citing what he described as US military interventions and statements regarding Greenland.
The campaign organizers called for not leaving the decision solely in the hands of the Royal Dutch Football Association, demanding wider political intervention in this matter.
In response, the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport stated that the decision to participate officially belongs to the football association, with the government committed to not directly intervening in such sports decisions.
These developments come amid increasing political tensions, particularly following the US President's announcement of a military operation against Iran, which sparked international reactions, including remarks from the president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, who expressed opposition to the United States, though not to the extent of withdrawing from the tournament.
The 2026 World Cup finals are scheduled to take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, from June 11 to July 19.
