Fight for DFB return
Mittelstädt makes a bold World Cup announcement
02/26/2026 – 12:06 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Maximilian Mittelstädt is fighting for a place in the DFB team for the World Cup. The competition is strong and the left-back has to prove himself.
Maximilian Mittelstädt from VfB Stuttgart is aiming to return to the German national team to take part in the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico this summer. Before the Europa League game against Celtic Glasgow (from 6:45 p.m. in the live ticker on t-online) Mittelstädt said: “My goal is to recommend myself for the World Cup and maybe slip in again.”
With David Raum and Nathaniel Brown he has two strong competitors in the left-back position. “Sure, there is a duel where maybe three players are fighting for the position and two are taken in the end,” said the VfB professional. “The other guys are doing very well too and it’s hard to say how I feel positioned.”
The 28-year-old is motivated by the national coach’s clear message about his good performance in the club. Mittelstädt has already made 15 appearances for the national team and is a top performer in Stuttgart. His coach, Sebastian Hoeneß, praises him as “very complete in his style of play” and also hopes that his protégé will take part in the World Cup.
“Of course I’m a fan of Maxi – and I really hope he can play in a World Cup,” said Hoeneß. Mittelstädt faces the challenge of prevailing against strong competition in order to realize his dream of participating in the World Cup.
