Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has been asked to step down from his role following the team's shocking elimination from the FIFA World Cup 2026, according to a report by Sky Germany.
Germany's World Cup 2026 Exit
Under Nagelsmann, the four-time World Cup champions suffered a historic defeat in the Round of 32, losing to Paraguay on penalties. The match ended 1-1 after extra time, with Germany initially believing they had secured a spot in the Round of 16 when Jonathan Tah scored from a corner in the 101st minute. However, a VAR review disallowed the goal, ruling that Germany defender Waldemar Anton had impeded Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill. Paraguay then won the penalty shootout 5-3.
Nagelsmann's Meeting with DFB Officials
According to Sky Germany, Nagelsmann met with officials from the German Football Association (DFB) on Thursday to discuss the disappointing campaign. The report also states that former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is the preferred candidate to succeed Nagelsmann should he depart.
Historic Upset
Germany's exit is one of the biggest knockout upsets in modern World Cup history. Germany entered the tournament ranked 10th in the FIFA World Rankings, while Paraguay were 41st, a gap of 31 places. Since 1994, only three World Cup knockout eliminations have featured a larger rankings disparity: Spain's defeat to Russia in 2018 (60 places), Italy's loss to South Korea in 2002 (34 places), and Spain's quarter-final exit to South Korea in 2002 (32 places).
Paraguay progressed to the Round of 16 after a memorable night defined by VAR controversy, defensive resilience, and clinical finishing from the penalty spot. The result continues Germany's woes at major tournaments since their 2014 World Cup triumph.
