Survey: 54% of Dutch fans less excited for World Cup because of Donald Trump
A majority of Dutch football fans, 54 percent, say their enthusiasm for the upcoming World Cup has been dampened by President Donald Trump’s presence and the broader political climate in the United States. The finding comes from a representative survey carried out by Panel Inzicht for Algemeen Dagblad (AD).
The political controversy surrounding one of the host nations appears to be dampening excitement for the Netherlands ahead of the World Cup, with traditional “Oranje fever” proving slow to take hold in the run-up to the tournament in North America. Games will be held in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Research conducted by the EenVandaag Opinion Panel among over 20,000 respondents shows that 10 percent of Dutch national team supporters plan to boycott World Cup broadcasts, citing the “Trump show” surrounding the tournament and FIFA’s tarnished image. That figure exceeds the boycott levels recorded during the disputed World Cups in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022.
Those critical of the situation point to several concerns. A common complaint among Dutch respondents is that the World Cup risks becoming a platform for political self-promotion, allowing Trump and FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to use the tournament to boost their public image. “We should not give ‘problematic countries’ the opportunity to engage in sportswashing,” one respondent said.
Many supporters liken the situation to the World Cup in Qatar, arguing that the tournament is again associated with a controversial political environment. They say the growing overlap between sport and politics is troubling and detracts from the event, AD reports.
At the start of the year, several advocacy groups and petition campaigns, including an initiative by DeGoedeZaak, urged a complete boycott of the tournament. Opponents contended that the Netherlands should have refrained from participating in the event in the United States.
There is also significant pushback against the idea that Trump is overshadowing the tournament. Many Dutch fans and commentators argue that politics and sport should remain separate, while some feel broadcasters such as the NPO focus excessively on criticism of Trump.
Speaking on NPO Radio 1, writer and columnist Simon Kuper dismissed calls for a boycott as misguided. He argued that political controversies tend to fade quickly, while the World Cup itself belongs to fans rather than figures such as Trump or FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Kuper added that the relatively open environment of U.S. stadiums could even serve as a valuable venue for demonstrations and criticism of government policy.
“Trump’s fate will be determined by Americans and by the Republican Party. Whatever happens at this World Cup will be forgotten again two weeks later. People will be focused on gasoline prices, inflation, and the war in Iran. The World Cup will fade away like a dream. So you must not ruin the World Cup, because it does not belong to Trump and it does not belong to Infantino. FIFA may organize and monetize the event, but the World Cup belongs to all of us," the critically acclaimed author said.
