DFB sporting director Rudi Völler demands that the German national team avoid political discussions immediately before matches at the 2026 Football World Cup. He refers to negative experiences from the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. Völler stresses that opinions can be expressed freely, but not on match day.
In an interview on the Sport1 show "Doppelpass," DFB sporting director Rudi Völler spoke clearly about political influences on the national team. "Of course, there will be no gag order," he said. However, he warns against repeats like in Qatar 2022: "But of course it cannot be, as with this so-called armband disaster in Qatar, that there are still discussions practically on match day."
At the World Cup in Qatar, there were days-long debates about the "One-Love" armband due to the human rights situation in the country. The world federation FIFA ultimately banned the armband. Before the lost group game against Japan, the players issued a statement by covering their mouths in the team photo.
Völler judges: "The discussions up to shortly before the game were not a good idea. That must not happen again. It will not happen again. (...) Of course everyone can have their opinion, but it does not have to be the day before a game."
Given the political conditions in the USA under President Donald Trump, it is expected that similar themes could overshadow the 2026 World Cup. Völler's stance aims to keep the team's focus on sport, based on lessons from Qatar.