World champion becomes clear
Germany World Cup favorite? Müller’s words make you sit up and take notice
Updated on February 28, 2026 – 12:15 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
The long-time German national player comments on the DFB team’s chances at the upcoming tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico – and speaks an uncomfortable truth.
Thomas Müller believes that the German national soccer team only has an outside chance of winning the title at the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada. “We have enough quality to beat any top nation on a single day. But on the other hand, I don’t see the stability that would make us hard to beat,” Müller told the “kicker”: “That’s a difference: Can I beat someone or am I very difficult to beat myself? That’s why we’re not one of the closer favorites.”
Overall, the transition has been “failed” since 2018; according to Müller, the “new generation” is missing “firm names in teams that regularly play in the semi-finals or finals of the Champions League.” This development must begin again “in order to be one of the top three candidates for the World Cup title.”
Nevertheless, each of the players “should go into the tournament with the mindset of throwing everything into the balance to make the final possible,” Müller continued. He would “of course” grant Germany the title.
The Bayern record player, who moved from the German record champions to the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2025 after 756 competitive appearances, will notice in his new adopted home that the World Cup begins in around 100 days. “People are already talking about the World Cup a lot, comparing it to the 2010 Winter Olympics,” said Müller: “When the games start, everyone will be excited. The Canadians have national pride, two of their group games are taking place here, there will be something on offer in Vancouver.”
He definitely believes the co-host can play a good World Cup role. Canada has been “on the right track and competitive for some time. They have a lot of good players besides Alphonso Davies. The round of 16 or even the quarter-finals would certainly be a big number for Canada.”
Müller himself ended his DFB career in 2024 after 131 international matches and 45 goals. The attacker became world champion with the national team at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. In total, the Bavarian played for the DFB team for 14 years.
