The 2026 World Cup is almost upon us. In just over a week, the time for talking will stop, and teams will have to prove their credentials with their performances on the pitch in North America. All roads, whether through the United States, Mexico or Canada, will lead to New Jersey on July 19, and the biggest football match on the planet: the World Cup final.
Steffen Freund believes England are currently better equipped than Germany to challenge for the 2026 World Cup, though he has warned of a potential stumbling block for Thomas Tuchel. The former Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund midfielder suggests that while the Three Lions possess superior squad depth, the manager's history with man-management could pose a threat to their pursuit of silverware.
With the World Cup now just around the corner, memories of the last tournament in the USA are coming to mind. From a German perspective, these are not happy memories.
Despite the convincing 4-0 win over Finland, Germany still lacks tactical discipline at times. Julian Nagelsmann is right to trust his young players, and his instincts are sound. Here are three takeaways from the penultimate friendly before the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Curiously, all ten of Germany's outfield starters wore pink boots during Sunday's 4-0 friendly win over Finland. Could this be the personal preference of highly rated young talent Lennart Karl?
Spanish international Marc Cucurella, who tormented the DFB team at the 2024 European Championship on home soil, has Ecuador down as his dark horse for the 2026 World Cup.
Two goals, one assist – Deniz Undav is making a strong case for a place in the World Cup starting line-up and presenting the national coach with a pleasant selection headache.
The World Cup has had no shortage of iconic moments across nearly 100 years of history. Every four years, billions of fans congregate to watch a tournament that has provided more drama, heartbreak and joy than any other event in sporting history. Football's grandest stage, the World Cup has always offered a platform for legends to be born, but it has also seen reputations destroyed and the downfall of so many famous faces.
Joshua Kimmich has revealed he will be supporting Arsenal in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. The Bayern Munich midfielder wants Germany team-mate Kai Havertz to lift the trophy and believes success at club level could benefit the national team ahead of the World Cup.
FIFA has confirmed the key dates and squad regulations for the 2026 World Cup. Nations must submit their final player lists by June 1, with strict rules in place regarding injuries, replacements and goalkeeper selections.
Manuel Neuer’s return to Germany’s squad has lifted confidence inside the national team camp ahead of the World Cup. Team-mates Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterbeck admitted the Bayern Munich veteran’s reputation alone changes how opponents approach games.
Eintracht Frankfurt defender Nathaniel Brown has refused to distance himself from growing speculation linking him with a summer switch to Bundesliga titans Bayern Munich. The highly-rated Germany left-back is fully focused on his international duties, but his impressive domestic form has reportedly caught the attention of several top European clubs.
Julian Nagelsmann could be heading for the tattoo studio if Germany win the World Cup. David Raum revealed the Germany boss may have backed himself into a corner after joking about getting matching ink should Die Mannschaft lift the trophy.
As expected, returning shot-stopper Manuel Neuer will wear the iconic number 1 shirt at the upcoming World Cup. His deputy, Oliver Baumann, has been allocated the number 12, while young star Lennart Karl will sport the number 25. However, it is the shirt number of a winger that is generating the most debate.
Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann has revealed which phone call was the most emotional during the selection process for the German squad for the 2026 World Cup.
Germany
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