Dutch FA issues statement over boycotting World Cup because of Donald Trump

The Dutch FA has released a statement on the possibility of boycotting the 2026 World Cup because of Donald Trump's actions.

Unfortunately, it looks like we're getting a series of World Cups held in nations with what could charitably be described as a questionable reputation.

The 2018 World Cup was held in Russia, which has spent the past few years invading neighbouring countries and has continued that bloody trend by causing one of the largest and deadliest conflicts in Europe since the Second World War.

Four years later, Qatar was the controversial host nation, a country with a litany of human rights abuses, and investigations into how they built the stadiums for the World Cup itself raised concerns that many migrant workers had died in the process.

This year's edition of the World Cup is set to be held across the US, Canada, and Mexico, which might be a problem for travelling fans, since Donald Trump has banned entry to the US for people from several nations that have qualified for the competition.

Donald Trump just got a peace prize from FIFA (Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Trump has also been stirring up global tensions by threatening to invade Greenland, though he's now said he wouldn't be 'using force' to take the place, but given how much he changes his mind, it's hard to take his words as given.

With everything Trump has been doing, there have been calls to boycott the 2026 World Cup, but the Dutch FA has released a statement which appears to play down that idea. KNVB secretary general Gijs de Jong said in a statement he was 'aware of geopolitical developments' concerning the US, but any decision would have to be guided by FIFA, UEFA, and his government. That would be the same FIFA that invented its own peace prize, just so it could give one to Trump.

De Jong said: "We live in a rapidly changing world. Therefore, we closely monitor international developments, in consultation with FIFA, UEFA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and local embassies.

Dutch football administrator Gijs de Jong said the decision was up to the Dutch government, FIFA and UEFA (Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images)

"We are alert and flexible, just as we have been in the past with tournaments.

"As a football association, our first priority is that players and staff can fully focus on football and their World Cup mission. As a football association, we focus on the World Cup and on our values: dialogue, connection, and innovation, even when circumstances differ from those in the Netherlands.

"It is up to the Dutch government to determine its position on international political developments. By continuing to play football and engage in dialogue, we link our progressive stance to our values, convinced that football can unite.

"We always follow the guidelines of the Dutch government and those of FIFA and UEFA. If they indicate that travel to or playing in a certain region is not permitted, we do not go.

"Within that framework, we stick to what is central to us: football, dialogue and connection. We are socially conscious."

In case you're wondering what that all means, it sounds like they're not going to be boycotting the World Cup.