The German Bundesliga club Werder Bremen has officially withdrawn from its planned May tour of the United States. The decision was made following a wave of social unrest triggered by the actions of the immigration enforcement agency ICE in Minneapolis. Club representatives argue that the current political situation in America and the associated economic risks conflict with the values upheld by this sports organization and make it impossible to safely conduct the planned friendly matches.

Values Over Profit

The club determined that the political situation in the USA conflicts with its mission, leading to the cancellation of the visit to Minneapolis and Detroit.

ICE Fatalities

The actions of the ICE agency led to the deaths of two individuals, which triggered mass social unrest in the state of Minnesota.

Economic Risks

Beyond ethics, Werder Bremen pointed to financial and logistical threats associated with organizing matches in an unstable region.

The management of the German club Werder Bremen announced the cancellation of its May trip to the United States, which was to include friendly matches in Minneapolis and Detroit. The official reason for the withdrawal is political issues and the tense social situation in the state of Minnesota. This decision came directly after controversial actions by the US agency ICE, which, as part of the deportation operation Metro Surge, led to the deaths of two US citizens. The victims of the officers were Renee Good and Alex Pretti, which sparked mass protests and destabilization of the region. Sports relations between Germany and the USA have a long tradition, but the Bundesliga has for years placed strong emphasis on the social and ethical responsibility of its members, which in the past has already led to boycotts of events in countries violating human rights.The club's spokesperson emphasized that the events in Minneapolis “do not align with the values” represented by Werder. Although the administration in Washington announced the end of intensified immigration actions in this region, German officials deemed the reputational and safety risks too great. The tour was intended to be part of preparations for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly organized by the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The withdrawal of one of the leading Bundesliga clubs is interpreted as a clear signal of opposition to the US government's immigration policy and the brutality of federal services. Experts also point to the economic risks mentioned by the club, stemming from a possible fan boycott of the matches and logistical difficulties in the city gripped by unrest. 3000 — federal agents were sent to Minneapolis as part of Operation Metro Surge[{"side1": "Federal services (ICE)", "side2": "Protesters", "result1": 2, "result2": 0, "round": "Fatalities"}]Chronology of the Minneapolis Crisis: — ; — ; — ; —

Mentioned People

  • Renee Good — Protester killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis.
  • Alex Pretti — US citizen shot by immigration service officers during the riots.
  • Tom Homan — White House border czar who announced the end of the operation in Minnesota.