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Andreas Rettig: 'You can't separate sports and politics'

The World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico is sparking discussions beyond the realm of football. DFB Director Andreas Rettig discusses the Germany team and the geopolitical situation in an interview with DW. While not a fan of the bloated 48-team World Cup this summer, Andreas Rettig admits anticipation is high as Germany enter the decisive phase of their preparation. Following two consecutive World Cup campaigns that saw Germany fail to get out of their group , the Director of Football at the German Football Association (DFB) knows the goal in 2026 is clear. "The goal would be for us to ultimately rank among the top five nations in the world. If we perform better than our current FIFA World Ranking [ninth], that would be a success," Rettig told DW. The 63-year-old enjoys talking about the Germany team, but just as with the last World Cup in Qatar four years ago, this tournament is also being overshadowed by non-football topics . Inflated ticket prices , entry bans for five participating nations , excessively high local transportation costs , and geopolitical tensions in the major host nation the USA are causing great concern among fans. The war launched by the USA and President Donald Trump against World Cup participant Iran, as well as domestic political debates stemming from the overly harsh tactics of the US  Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), are in particular focus. "We live in a time when we are confronted every day with things that leave me at a loss," said Rettig. "There are a lot of irrational things going on that have nothing to do with football, things that just make you shake your head. Our values-based order has fallen into disarray." Critical remarks and a clear stance on issues outside of football have become the exception, which makes Rettig's comments a little vague. But the director explains that the DFB, the world's largest sports federation, has learned its lessons from Qatar. At the time, the controversy over the 'One Love' armband and the Germany team photo, where the players held their hands over their mouths, sparked major discussions. Especially because, following the political protests, the team's performance on the field was lackluster to say the least. This time, the plan is for that to be different. "The team should focus primarily on the sport. Issues like that don't belong in the locker room," Rettig explained. "But that doesn't mean we're silencing the players," Rettig said, adding that the players are thoughtful enough and are always free to express their opinions on anything. "But I think it's disruptive and distracts from our focus. We need our strength and energy for what really matters. We are, first and foremost, a football team and are judged by our performance on the field." Speaking out on political issues is the job of officials, such as DFB President Bernd Neuendorf , and senior leadership such as Rettig. "It would be naive to say that none of this interests me. Of course it interests us, of course we care about it, and of course there are some developments we don't like," said Rettig, refraining from voicing explicit criticism. It is precisely this lack of assertiveness on the part of the DFB that former Germany goalkeeper Almuth Schult recently condemned. "I understand that it is difficult for the DFB to take a stand because the vast majority of the global football community stands behind [FIFA President] Infantino and his decisions," Schult said in an interview with the daily newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau . "The DFB is happy to champion diversity and other values. It would be nice if they could represent those not only nationally but also internationally. Unfortunately, choosing not to communicate on this issue is also a statement in itself," Schult added. The DFB is not alone in holding back. Other major federations have also been sparing with their criticism of the US or FIFA President Gianni Infantino . Schult was full of praise for Norway's federation president, Lise Klaveness, as the only official who has taken a clear stand in recent years. Klaveness had strongly criticized the awarding of the FIFA Peace Prize to Donald Trump, calling it illegitimate and a violation of political neutrality. "I hope that the award given to the US president will serve as an incentive for him to live up to it," Rettig said. "But whether an award like that belongs at a World Cup draw is a matter of opinion. I didn't like it." It is not only the hastily concocted Peace Prize but also the close ties between Infantino and Trump that are causing discontent. After all, the oft-cited independence of sports from politics is, at best, a thing of the past. "Of course, you can't separate sports and politics. I'm constantly left at a loss by the speed and force of decisions, as well as the geopolitical repercussions they now entail," said Rettig, adding that traditional principles and certainties have been reduced to absurdity. "Who would have thought that we would develop such a critical stance toward Country A or B?" Rettig is critical and believes the moral compass has shifted, adding that, in the end, we no longer know friend from foe. This article was adapted from German. Edited by: Janek Speight