Werder Bremen cancels U.S. summer tour over safety and logistical hurdles
Bundesliga side Werder Bremen recently scrapped plans for a summer tour of the United States—and the club has now provided a detailed account of the circumstances behind the decision.
A spokesperson told SID that "sporting, financial, and political reasons" ultimately led to the cancellation.
Werder had originally intended to travel to the U.S. ahead of the 2026 World Cup—co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada—with a stop planned in Minnesota, among other locations.
"Playing in a city gripped by unrest where people are being shot simply does not align with our values," the club stated. "Furthermore, given the tightened U.S. entry requirements, we no longer know which of our players would even be allowed into the country."
In recent weeks, thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have been deployed to Minneapolis as part of stricter immigration policies ordered by then-U.S. President Donald Trump. In January, two U.S. citizens were fatally shot by ICE agents in the city.
But political concerns were not the only factor behind Bremen's change of plans. The club's statement continued: "The current sporting situation has also made planning difficult, and there were certain financial risks involved."
Werder Bremen is currently deep in a relegation battle. Had the trip gone ahead, the team could have faced playoff matches against the third-placed side in the 2. Bundesliga during the same period.
The local outlet Deichstube first reported the cancellation of the tour, and in recent days, the story has drawn attention from international media as well.
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