She had asked for time to think about it, but now it is clear: Ann-Katrin Berger will continue to guard the goal for the German women’s national soccer team in the future.
The question of the future in goal has been clarified, Christian Wück can look forward to an early Christmas present: Ann-Katrin Berger is continuing her career in goal for the German national soccer team. The German Football Association (DFB) announced this on Thursday. Until recently it was unclear whether Berger would continue to play games for the selection. Now national coach Wück has planning security with a view to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
“It is an important decision that is being made now and with a view to the 2027 World Cup,” Wück told kicker this week – and emphasized once again how much he would like to continue with Berger: “We exchanged ideas and clearly signaled to her that we would be happy to continue the collaboration if she felt ready for it. That was information that she took in with a smile.”
But Berger asked for more time to think about things after the sobering 3-0 loss in the Nations League final against Spain at the beginning of December. She had previously indicated that she could definitely imagine a future in the DFB goal: “I’m looking forward to next year to see what the team is capable of,” said the 35-year-old after the game. But a conversation with Wück and goalkeeping coach Michael Fuchs initially did not result in a decision.
Four-time US champion
Wück showed understanding for the time Berger requested. “Everyone has their own way of dealing with important questions,” said the 52-year-old. Berger “thinks a lot about the people she works with.” Now the reigning female footballer of the year has decided that she would like to continue working with Wück and her teammates in the DFB team in the future.
Berger made her debut for the selection in 2020 and has been number one in the DFB goal since the 2024 Olympic Games. She has played a total of 29 international matches so far. At the European Championships in Switzerland this summer, the penalty killer was one of the key players in the team’s advance to the semi-finals. In club soccer she is active for Gotham FC, with the club Berger won the title in the US National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in November.
Now she is setting her sights on the next big goal: the World Cup tournament in two years. In the qualification from March we will face Slovenia, Norway and Austria. Berger had already made it clear that she was looking forward to the big event in South America: “The weather is definitely nice. Brazil is a football-crazy country.”