Report: Nagelsmann to Quit Germany

Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann is set to step down following the country's disappointing exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to a report by German newspaper Bild.

The report claims the 38-year-old agreed to resign after a meeting with senior officials of the German Football Association (DFB).

Citing unnamed sources, Bild said a three-hour closed-door meeting took place at the DFB headquarters in Frankfurt on Thursday, where Nagelsmann decided to leave his position. The newspaper, however, did not disclose further details of the discussions.

The German Football Association did not immediately respond to a Reuters email seeking comment on the report.

According to Bild, Nagelsmann was advised to consider stepping down after explaining Germany's penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay in the World Cup Round of 32. The report also claimed he would receive compensation of around €7 million (about $8 million) if he leaves the job.

Four-time world champions Germany were eliminated by Paraguay on penalties in Boston on Monday, extending a run of disappointing World Cup campaigns. After group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022, Germany once again failed to mount a serious challenge, marking a third consecutive underwhelming tournament.

Germany last won the World Cup in 2014 in Brazil, lifting their fourth world title.

Nagelsmann took charge of the national team in 2023 and became the youngest coach to lead Germany in the World Cup knockout stage in four decades.

Following the defeat to Paraguay, however, he insisted he was not the type of coach to resign simply because of a World Cup elimination.

"I'm not the kind of person who says, 'I've been knocked out of the World Cup, so I'm resigning,'" Nagelsmann said after the match.

If Bild's report proves accurate, the German coach may soon reverse that position and bring his tenure with the national team to an end.

MMR