2026 World Cup: Julian Nagelsmann is no longer the coach of the German national team (official)

Julian Nagelsmann's time as manager of the German national team has come to an end. Just days after Germany's early exit in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup, the 38-year-old officially resigned. The German Football Association has confirmed that it has begun discussions with Jürgen Klopp to replace him.

Appointed with the aim of restoring the luster to a Germany that had been losing momentum on the international stage, Julian Nagelsmann failed to reverse the trend. After the disappointments of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, the four-time world champions hoped to finally return to the top. But their run ended in the round of 32, defeated by Paraguay, another setback that precipitated the departure of the former Bayern Munich coach.

Although he was contracted to the German Football Association (DFB) until 2028, Nagelsmann knew that this latest setback significantly weakened his position. Following several discussions with the DFB leadership, he chose to resign, a decision quickly ratified by the governing bodies.

In an official statement, the German Football Association (DFB) announced that its supervisory board and shareholder representatives had unanimously approved the immediate termination of Julian Nagelsmann's contract, at his request. The Federation also specified that his assistants, Benjamin Glück and Benjamin Hübner, were also leaving their positions, thanking them for their professionalism and dedication to the national team.

For his part, Julian Nagelsmann explained that he had carefully considered his decision after his team's elimination. "I've thought a lot over the past few days since our elimination. The decision was extremely difficult, but I think this team needs a fresh start. I sincerely thank my staff, the players, the members of the Federation, and the fans, who have always supported us, even in the most difficult moments. I deeply regret not being able to give them the run they hoped for."

Nagelsmann's departure has opened the door to a succession at the helm of the German national team. According to several German media outlets, Jürgen Klopp appears to be the frontrunner to take over the reins. Currently holding a management position within the Red Bull group, the former Liverpool manager has reportedly expressed his interest in this new challenge.

The German Football Association has confirmed that talks are underway with the 59-year-old manager. If the discussions are successful, Klopp could return to the sidelines two years after leaving Liverpool, tasked with rebuilding a German team in need of a fresh start before the upcoming major international tournaments.