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Bundesliga side Werder Bremen has called off plans for a United States tour, including a match in protest-hit Minneapolis, citing “political reasons,” a club spokesperson told AFP on Saturday.
The summer tour, initially scheduled for May ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico, included friendlies in Minneapolis and Detroit. However, the club decided not to proceed, stating that travelling under the current circumstances would not align with its values.
Thousands of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have been deployed to Minneapolis as part of an immigration crackdown by US President Donald Trump. Earlier in January, two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were shot dead during mass protests against ICE’s presence in the city.
Asked about the cancellation, the spokesperson said it was for “sporting, economic and political reasons” and added, “Playing in a city where there is unrest and people have been shot does not fit with our values.”
Stricter US entry requirements, including social media checks, also contributed to the decision. “It was unclear to us which players would be able to enter the USA at all due to the stricter entry requirements,” the spokesperson explained.
Currently 16th in the Bundesliga and in the relegation playoff spot, Bremen said the threat of relegation added to the logistical and economic risks of planning the trip. European clubs often undertake off-season tours to gain match practice and enhance their international profile, with the United States a common destination.
Bremen, four-time German champions who last won the league in 2004, are known for being politically outspoken. In 2024, the club was among a few German sides to leave X, formerly Twitter, citing the platform’s proliferation of “hate speech, hatred against minorities, far-right posts, and conspiracy theories” under Elon Musk.
On Friday, Bremen coach Daniel Thioune addressed the Vinicius Junior racism controversy, in which the Brazil international accused Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni of calling him a “monkey” during Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory in Lisbon. Thioune, the first German-born Black manager in professional football in Germany, said racism “has no place in football and should not have a place anywhere in society.”
