England and Scotland face calls to boycott 2026 World Cup amid Donald Trump threats

Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 20/01/2026

- 12:39

The US President continues to be obssessed with Greenland

Politicians from across the political spectrum have demanded that England and Scotland withdraw from this summer's men's football World Cup as a protest against President Trump's ambitions to take control of Greenland.

Conservative former minister Simon Hoare, who represents North Dorset, joined forces with Liberal Democrat Luke Taylor in Parliament to argue that the home nations should refuse to participate in the tournament being hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.


The MPs suggested the Government should adopt a strategy of humiliating the President, with Mr Hoare declaring that ministers must "fight fire with fire" against Mr Trump.

Both parliamentarians also proposed that King Charles III should scrap his scheduled state visit to America.

Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Hoare argued that conventional diplomatic responses were proving ineffective against the current White House occupant.

"Now, that would be fine if we had an occupant of the White House who understood all of that and who respected all of that, but he laughs now, not just behind his hand, but blatantly in our faces as a result of that," he said.

The Conservative MP characterised the President as someone with a fragile ego who cannot tolerate public humiliation.

Politicians from across the political spectrum have demanded that England and Scotland withdraw from this summer's men's football World Cup as a protest against President Trump's ambitions to take control of Greenland

Politicians from across the political spectrum have demanded that England and Scotland withdraw from this summer's men's football World Cup as a protest against President Trump's ambitions to take control of Greenland

|

PA

"Should the state visit go ahead this year? Should football teams play in American stadia for the World Cup? These are things which would embarrass the president at home. We now need to fight fire with fire," Mr Hoare told MPs.

Mr Taylor echoed his colleague's assessment, describing the President as someone operating outside normal diplomatic boundaries.

"Diplomacy relies on rational actors, yet even in the last fortnight we have seen Donald Trump declare that he is not bound by international law, only his own morality," the Liberal Democrat MP stated.

Who has won the last five World Cup finals?Who has won the last five World Cup finals? | PA

He added: "We are not dealing with a rational man. He responds only to shiny baubles, as we've seen with the incredible saga of the Nobel Peace Prize."

Labour MP Kate Osborne, who chairs the Women's Football All Party Parliamentary Group, has also backed the boycott campaign.

The Jarrow and Gateshead East representative argued that America "should not be able to participate in the World Cup, let alone be part of hosting it."

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper defended the Government's approach of continued engagement with Washington, telling MPs that diplomatic efforts had already secured significant reductions to initial tariff proposals.

Donald Trump

Donald Trump remains hellbent on annexing Greenland

|
GETTY

She also pointed to progress on Ukraine security guarantees and billions of pounds in technology investment resulting from Sir Keir Starmer's discussions with Mr Trump.

The President has threatened 10 per cent tariffs on the UK and European allies from February 1 unless they agree to his purchase of the semi-autonomous Danish territory, and has not ruled out military action.

Markets tumbled on Tuesday, with the FTSE 100 falling more than 120 points in early trading.

A potential flashpoint looms next month when the US face Denmark in ice hockey at the Winter Olympics on February 14.