A Boycott Mood Stronger Than Russia and Qatar
The survey, conducted by Panel Inzicht, paints a clear picture of a divided fanbase. Research from the EenVandaag Opinion Panel, which gathered responses from over 20,000 participants, found that 10 percent of Dutch national team supporters are planning to skip World Cup broadcasts altogether. Their reasons center on what many describe as the political circus surrounding the event and concerns about FIFA's damaged reputation.

Notably, that boycott figure is higher than what was recorded ahead of the World Cups held in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022, both of which were deeply controversial in their own right.

Many Dutch respondents draw a direct comparison to Qatar, arguing the sport is once again being hosted in a politically charged environment. A recurring frustration is the fear that the tournament will be used as a stage for self-promotion by Trump and FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, rather than serving as a celebration of football.

Some feel strongly that controversial nations should not be handed opportunities to clean up their image through major sporting events. Advocacy groups, including DeGoedeZaak, have already pushed hard for a full boycott, and petitions calling on the Netherlands to stay out of the tournament entirely gained notable attention earlier this year. Games are set to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.



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