“I’m sorry, what?”
Schweinsteiger jokes about Sedlaczek – she immediately counters
June 20, 2026 – 12:49 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
Before the game between the USA and Australia, the ARD presenter and the 2014 world champion engage in a war of words on live TV.
Esther Sedlaczek and Bastian Schweinsteiger lead during the Soccer World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico together through many of the broadcasts on ARD. This was also the case at the game between co-host USA and Australia on Friday afternoon local time in Seattle. The duo stood in the stadium and got the German spectators in the mood for the game.
And there once again an entertaining exchange of words developed on live TV between the presenter and the 2014 world champion. During the broadcast, Sedlaczek first spoke about possible future world championships in Germany. “By the way, that one DFB is thinking about whether he would choose them WM 2038 or 2042,” said the 40-year-old. Schweinsteiger immediately took up the proposal and replied: “Let’s take both, right?”
Sedlaczek then joked: “I was already calculating how old we would be then,” she explained with a laugh. Even before she could present her bill, Schweinsteiger beat her to it: “Wait a minute: you’re 62, I’m 47,” he said with a wink. The gag: Schweinsteiger – actually a year older than Sedlaczek – made himself look younger and the Berlin-born woman instead made herself look significantly older.
Because at a World Cup in 2038 or 2042, Sedlaczek would be 52 or 56 years old. Schweinsteiger would then be 53 or 57 years old.
“I can’t get there”
But the conversation continued. “Then I probably already have gray hair,” remarked Sedlaczek. Schweinsteiger reacted with surprise: “Excuse me?” The moderator countered with a laugh: “But I can’t get to yours, I can’t get there.” The expert teased back on the subject of gray hair: “By the way, you already have it.” The comment caused laughter in the studio again.
Sedlaczek reacted calmly. “I already have a few gray hairs, but that’s completely okay, I’m 40, hello? Age doesn’t pass me by either,” she stated.
The duo of Berlin-born Sedlaczek and the 2014 world champion Schweinsteiger have proven themselves for years in the “Sportschau” TV broadcasts of DFB Cup and international matches on the first. Since 2021, Sedlaczek has also been leading the “Sportschau” on Saturday evenings, her contract with the ARD runs until 2029.