World Cup 2026 title is our goal, says Germany coach

Germany, four-time World Cup winners, are determined to claim the 2026 title, coach Julian Nagelsmann said on Wednesday ahead of their opening qualifier against Slovakia on Thursday.

The Germans begin their Group A campaign in Bratislava before facing Northern Ireland in Cologne on September 7.

Nagelsmann stressed the importance of starting strong as they aim to secure qualification for the tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

“Setting goals is essential. It’s difficult for a team—or even an individual—to progress without something to strive for,” Nagelsmann told reporters when asked if targeting the World Cup crown was overly ambitious.

Germany have suffered early exits at the last two World Cups, and polls suggest many fans are skeptical about their chances.

“Every player in this squad wants to win the World Cup, and I am convinced no one here would say otherwise,” Nagelsmann added.

With Luxembourg also in the group, Germany remain strong favourites to progress, though the coach emphasized the importance of staying focused on each match.

“We must concentrate on the process, on each step, without letting doubts creep in because of the bigger objective. The process is the key to achieving our goals,” he said.

Germany, who were knocked out in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals in Nagelsmann’s first major tournament, also head into qualifying after consecutive defeats to Portugal and France in the Nations League.

“It’s about finding rhythm,” Nagelsmann said. “We need more stability, fewer dips like in recent games. The priority is to win, qualify, and hopefully do so with authority.”