Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has conceded that his team is no longer among the world's elite after a shock Round of 32 exit at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The four-time champions were eliminated by Paraguay in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw after extra time, marking their third consecutive early exit from the tournament.
Nagelsmann admits Germany's decline
Speaking after the match, Nagelsmann was candid about the team's standing on the global stage. "If you exit after the first stage, it's not enough for German football. This is now the third elimination in a row, so we are not part of the first-class teams any more. I am disappointed," he said, as quoted by ESPN.
Germany's early exit is one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 World Cup. The team entered the tournament ranked 10th in the FIFA World Rankings, while Paraguay were 41st — a gap of 31 places. According to OptaJoe, this is one of the largest ranking disparities in a World Cup knockout upset since 1994, surpassed only by Spain's loss to Russia in 2018 (60 places), Italy's defeat to South Korea in 2002 (34 places), and Spain's quarter-final exit to South Korea in 2002 (32 places).
Nagelsmann willing to stay despite criticism
Despite the disappointing campaign, Nagelsmann expressed his desire to remain as head coach if the German Football Association (DFB) retains confidence in him. "If the DFB wants me, I am going to continue. I know a lot of people want me to leave, but I would love to continue if the DFB want me. I'll give my arguments to my boss," he said.
Nagelsmann acknowledged that public opinion is likely against him following the early exit. "If there was a survey today in Germany, people aren't going to talk about me positively, obviously. We have not done much during this tournament," he said, as quoted by ESPN. However, he insisted he would not resign. "I'm not someone who runs away," Nagelsmann added.
Historic defeat for Germany
The defeat to Paraguay was only Germany's second loss on penalties at a major international tournament, the first being against Czechoslovakia in the 1976 UEFA European Championship final (5-3), according to OptaJoe. Paraguay, meanwhile, advanced to the Round of 16 after a memorable night defined by VAR controversy, defensive resilience, and clinical penalty-taking.
The result marks Germany's earliest exit from a World Cup, compounding the disappointment of their group-stage elimination in 2018 and a second-round exit in 2022. Nagelsmann's future now hangs in the balance as the DFB considers whether to continue with the 38-year-old coach.
