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Chart of the Month November 2025

Football unites. Who do Germans from a migrant background and foreigners cross their fingers for?

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Question: “Imagine that Germany were playing [country of origin/mother's country of origin/father's country of origin] in a football match: who would you cross your fingers for?” Answers in per cent. Missing values for 100 per cent: don't know/no answer. Surveys 1055 and 2015-00 conducted on behalf of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.

Identification with Germany can manifest itself in various ways, including football. German citizenship makes a significant difference to whether people would support their country of origin (or that of their parents) or Germany in football. Germans from a migrant background are much more likely to cheer for Germany than people without German citizenship.

When asked who they would cross their fingers for in football, half of the Germans from a migrant background said they would be supporting Germany. Fifteen per cent said they would be rooting for their country of origin, while a quarter said they would be supporting both equally. This was also the case in 2015.

In contrast, 42 per cent of foreigners remain loyal to their country of origin. Just under a quarter cross their fingers for Germany, and another quarter support both countries.

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Contact Dr. Sabine Pokorny
Dr. Sabine Pokorny
Policy Advisor Electoral and Social Research
sabine.pokorny@kas.de +49 30 26996-3544

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