Nation's Fans Will 'Refuse' to Travel to World Cup in US Amid Trump Boycott Talks
Fans from one nation will refuse to attend 2026 FIFA World Cup matches hosted by the United States, it has been suggested.
The US will co-host this summer's tournament along with Canada and Mexico.
Fans from four qualified nations are currently banned outright from entering the US for the tournament, with Iran, Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast under full or partial travel bans.
Despite various other immigration-related sanctions on other countries, including the processing suspension of immigrant visas, fans from all other countries are, at least as things stand, able to attend all World Cup matches.
Advert
Canada do have selected travel bans in place but these do not relate to any World Cup countries, while Mexico does not have any bans in place.
Some fan groups have already declared they are boycotting the World Cup, with England's official LGBTQ+ group, Three Lions Pride, announcing earlier this month that they would not attend due to safety concerns in the US.
Now, another World Cup nation could follow suit with a partial fan boycott - if they qualify.
That's according to Anja Lilli Beikes, who is a board member of the Danish Football Fan Federation (DFF), the official supporters' association of Denmark.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Beikes has suggested that 'not many' Danish fans will attend matches in the United States due to current geopolitical tensions surrounding US President Donald Trump and Greenland.
Greenland belongs to the Kingdom of Denmark, but Trump has repeatedly stated in recent weeks that he wants the US to take control of it.
After talks with NATO secretary general Mark Rutte last week, Trump appeared to row back on those intentions and his plans to impose tariffs on eight European nations, including Denmark, France, Germany and the UK, who opposed his stance.
- If you want to see even more from SPORTbible, make us a preferred source on Google.
Beikes explains: "The US is very unpopular in Denmark at the moment.
"During the last year Danish travel companies experienced a huge fall in the sale of trips to the US.
"Lots of football fans are discussing whether Denmark should actually boycott the World Cup because FIFA is also enormously unpopular in Denmark.
"Honestly - and this is my personal opinion - I do not think that many Danish fans will come to the World Cup if we qualify.
"Some fans would maybe travel to the two matches in Mexico but I do not think we will see many Danish fans in the US. I, and some of my fellow fans, actually think it would probably be better not to qualify."
Denmark must progress through the UEFA play-offs to qualify for the World Cup, having lost top spot in their qualifying group via a 4-2 defeat to Scotland on the final day of their campaign.
Should they qualify through the play-offs, they will drawn into Group A alongside Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.
Denmark would only have to play one group match in the United States, with the other matches being held in Mexico, but their round of 32 tie - unless they win the group - is guaranteed to have them play in the States if they reach that stage.
Topics: Donald Trump, Football, FIFA, FIFA World Cup, US Sports
Ryan Smart