DFB live blog
All news about the DFB team in the live blog.
07:19 am
Entry trouble in Ivory Coast – Neuendorf is worried
DFB President Bernd Neuendorf reacted with concern to reports that Ivory Coast fans would not be allowed to travel to the World Cup. “If that were the case, I would find it fundamentally problematic if people were simply rejected as a group across the board. That would be a process that, in my opinion, would be incomprehensible.”said the 64-year-old during a visit to the German House of Soccer in New York. Neuendorf emphasized that he had only read about it and therefore spoke in the subjunctive.
There had previously been reports that a number of Ivorian fans had not received visas and therefore could not support their team in the USA. The Ivory Coast will face the German team in the second group game on June 20th – but in Toronto, Canada. This Sunday the Ivorians will play against Ecuador in Philadelphia (USA).
02:47
National coach Nagelsmann works magic in training
The German national players can learn something from their coach: Julian Nagelsmann showed a fine right foot during the DFB team’s training in Winston-Salem. The national coach sank a free kick over a dummy wall with a lot of feeling and fantastically in the corner. This is shown in a video that the German Football Association (DFB) posted on Instagram. Nagelsmann had to end his playing career early. After a meniscus and cartilage damage, it was over at the age of 20. At the age of 38, Nagelsmann is the youngest coach in the tournament at the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
Julian Nagelsmann in training with the DFB team
10:46 p.m
Havertz is used to being underestimated in Germany
In the Sportschau interview, Kai Havertz spoke two days before the World Cup opener against Curacao (Sunday, 7 p.m. CEST) about his status in the DFB team and his perception in public. He says: “I’m not the one who makes big speeches in the dressing room before the game.” Despite it “I’m not someone who can hide behind a big guy. I have to lead the way myself.” He is now used to the fact that he is still underestimated at home.
June 12, 2026 • 9:37 p.m
New appearance against Curacao probably safe
Judging by the training impressions in the German World Cup quarters in Winston-Salem, Manuel Neuer will be in goal against Curacao on Sunday (7 p.m.). The 40-year-old has overcome his calf problems and the FC Bayern keeper was fully involved in the strenuous sessions. “He just radiates something special when he’s in goal. Even when things get hectic, he stays calm,” said central defender Jonathan Tah, summing up the advantages of his back man.
June 12, 2026 • 8:04 p.m
Undav welcomes new comeback
National striker Deniz Undav admitted on Friday that goalkeeper Manuel Neuer’s national team comeback surprised him. However, he emphasized that he thought national coach Julian Nagelsmann’s decision was right. “He’s simply one of the best goalkeepers of all time. If not the best,” he said at the press conference. “If you run towards him as a striker, you can be frightened and you have to shoot much more well-placed.”
Neuer simply has a certain aura around him and, thanks to his calmness, he is also important off the pitch. “You just feel his experience.”
June 12, 2026 • 7:38 p.m
World Cup oracle Taio is skeptical
This year’s World Cup oracle Taio apparently doesn’t have too much confidence in the German national team. The anteater from the Münster All-Weather Zoo, who celebrated his premiere as a fortune teller on Friday, is tipping for a draw for the DFB team’s opening game against Curacao on Sunday (7 p.m.). With three bottles filled with worms, Taio chose the happy medium. This stands for a draw.
June 12, 2026 • 7:14 p.m
“Perlen diver” Nagelsmann gives his players a breath of fresh air
At around 35 degrees, the German team is preparing for the first World Cup game on Sunday against Curacao – so it’s no wonder that the players are happy about any refreshment. During all breaks people drink, water is poured over each other’s heads and many players go to the sidelines whenever possible – but not for instructions, changing clothes or anything similar.
The DFB put a large black fan on the sidelines, which Nagelsmann himself turned on for his players on Wednesday. The national coach had previously grabbed a drink bottle from the ice cream bin and said: “It’s like diving for pearls.”
June 12, 2026 • 6:27 p.m
Germany is hoping for a lot of “Major Tom”
“Completely detached from the earth” – this catchy tune has been used to celebrate the DFB team’s goals since 2024. And that’s how it will be at the 2026 World Cup. Two days before the opening game against Curacao, the DFB announced that “Major Tom” will remain the German goal anthem at the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
In addition to Peter Schilling’s song, the association has submitted two other so-called “signature songs” to FIFA, but it is not clear when exactly they will be played. These are “On Days Like These” by Die Toten Hosen and “Time for Something to Turn” by Herbert Grönemeyer.
June 12, 2026 • 2:24 p.m
Birthday boy Kai Havertz wants to lead the DFB team
Kai Havertz is already used to having the birthday serenade during tournament years with the national team and not at home with the family. And yet something is different about the offensive player, who was born in Aachen on June 11, 1999, on his special day in Winston-Salem. The now 27-year-old’s status in the DFB team has changed.
The Arsenal professional is no longer a talent. Rather, he has reached his prime as a footballer – and a leader. “I want to move forward”says the offensive player. “I love pressure situations. I want to show that Germany is where it belongs!”
June 12, 2026 • 1:48 p.m
Chancellor Friedrich Merz wishes the DFB team much success
Chancellor Friedrich Merz wished the German national team every success at the 2026 World Cup. The CDU politician sent his best wishes to the World Cup quarters in Winston-Salem via video call, as can be seen online. “Hello, this is Friedrich Merz,” says the 70-year-old to DFB captain Joshua Kimmich and his colleagues Kai Havertz and Jonathan Tah from the players’ council. During the conversation, national coach Julian Nagelsmann also joins us. “Looks good,” Merz comments on the situation, Kimmich assures him: “The mood is right to win games.” Merz confirms: “The whole of Germany is keeping its fingers crossed for you! Everyone here is excited!”
After the stars thanked them for the support from home (“we need it!”), Merz said goodbye with the words: “Many greetings, hello, hello, hello. I would say, Mr. Nagelsmann, we’ll talk on the phone every now and then to see how things are going after the first games have been played.”
Jun 12, 2026 • 10:38 am
This is how things continue with the DFB team
This Friday (June 12th), coach Julian Nagelsmann’s team will train in Winston-Salem at 11 a.m. local time (5 p.m. CEST). Following the training session, attacker Deniz Undav from VfB Stuttgart will answer questions from the media at a press conference at 1:45 p.m.
Tomorrow, Saturday (June 13th), the final training session for the DFB selection will take place at around 3 p.m. local time before the game against Curaçao (Sunday, 7 p.m., live on ARD as well as in the live stream and audio stream on sportschau.de). Then the players, those responsible and the staff go to Smith Reynolds Airport in Winston-Salem. From there the DFB entourage flies to George Bush Intercontinental Airport near Houston. A press conference with national coach Julian Nagelsmann will take place in the Texas metropolis on Saturday evening (7.30 p.m.).
Jun 12, 2026 • 5:14 am
No agreement yet on World Cup bonuses for the DFB team
Shortly before the first World Cup appearance, negotiations over bonuses between players and the DFB have not been completed. “Yeah, we’re close. So, it’s looking good,” Jonathan Tah said in Winston-Salem. Like captain Joshua Kimmich, the FC Bayern defender is one of the professionals who are negotiating with the association on behalf of the team. It is unusual that not all details have been agreed upon shortly before the start of the World Cup.
“We are in good discussions with the team council. But we are not conducting the negotiations publicly,” DFB President Bernd Neuendorf said in May. The last German world champions in 2014 received the highest bonus so far with 300,000 euros per man. The team will receive a record bonus. The DFB did not mention a specific amount, but managing director Andreas Rettig confirmed: “If the team becomes world champion, there will be more than in Qatar because significantly more will come in.”
June 11, 2026 • 10:45 p.m
Havertz – “Don’t worry too much about it”
Striker Kai Havertz speaks in an exclusive Sportschau interview about the situation in the German attack and his reaction to calls for Deniz Undav.
June 11, 2026 • 10:20 p.m
Nagelsmann commits: Pavlović and Nmecha on double 6
Aleksandar Pavlović and Felix Nmecha have only started together twice. Now they should form the heart of the center. Nagelsmann and Pavlović made this clear in the ZDF interview. Nmecha should take on the more offensive role, so Pavlović has to “stay in front of the chain” more often. Despite little playing time together, the interaction would work well. Back in March, Nagelsmann favored Goretzka over Nmecha in a Kicker interview.
Aleksandar Pavlović and Felix Nmecha after the friendly against Finland.
Jun 11, 2026 • 9:54 p.m
Regeneration and a good mood
On Kai Havertz’s birthday, the DFB team’s agenda included a serenade and, above all, regeneration. The defensive duo Tah and Schlotterbeck were in a good mood on the PK.