In October, the national team travels to the US east coast for two international matches in the middle of the season. The DFB is drawn to the venue of the next World Cup. Players look at jet lag and travel stress.
Some of the national soccer players are critical of the trip because of the stress and the inevitable jet lag.
“I see it with my colleagues who travel ten hours somewhere in Africa or with Giovanni Reyna, who comes back jet lagged after playing for the USA. I don’t think the date is quite so well chosen.”, said defender Niklas Süle in Wolfsburg. The 28-year-old was only in the USA during the pre-season with Borussia Dortmund.
The DFB selection will play two friendlies on the American East Coast on October 14 in Hartford against the USA and three days later in Philadelphia against Mexico. The trip starts on Monday, October 9th. The return flight is on Wednesday 18 October.
Voller defends Trip
Just two days later, the Bundesliga game continues with Dortmund versus SV Werder Bremen. The Bundesliga clubs are therefore also critical of the trip. DFB sports director Rudi Völler, in turn, defended the association’s plans. It is important to be there with a view to the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
Leverkusen’s Jonas Hofmann spoke at the DFB press conference “divided opinions”. He goes along with the arguments against the trip, but is still looking forward to experiencing something there. “I’m happy to take on the stress of the flight and the time change”said the 31-year-old. “But our bodies are our assets and are being compromised.”
Goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen has no personal experience of traveling overseas during the season. Of course, he does point out to his national team colleagues at FC Barcelona, for example when they return from assignments in South America, that they are not physically “one hundred percent” when they return from the trip.