After World Cup Exit in Foxborough: DFB Team Meets for Farewell in Winston-Salem

Final Gathering Before the Return Home

Head coach Julian Nagelsmann, whose contract with the German Football Association (DFB) runs until after the 2028 European Championship, ruled out resigning following the early exit. In Foxborough, the 38-year-old said: "Ich stehe bereit, wenn man das möchte. Und wenn man das nicht möchte, muss man das sagen." Accordingly, he would also prepare the team for the 2028 European Championship as well as the new Nations League round beginning in September.

Nagelsmann Offers Further Cooperation

The DFB has postponed a decision on Nagelsmann's future after the blow. President Bernd Neuendorf, sporting director Rudi Völler, and managing director Andreas Rettig returned to Winston-Salem with the team. Neuendorf stated: "Wir können und wollen nach einem derartigen Tiefschlag mit Blick auf die anstehenden Aufgaben nicht einfach zur Tagesordnung übergehen."

Criticism of the German team's performances continues unabated in the meantime. Former national team player and current TV pundit Bastian Schweinsteiger criticized "fehlende fußballerische Element, mangelnde Kreativität und unsauberes Passspiel". Dietmar Hamann said as an expert for the Irish broadcaster RTÉ Sport: "Im Durchschnitt waren die Auftritte enttäuschend. Es war so bei der EM, es war so bei der Qualifikation und es war so bei der Weltmeisterschaft."

Criticism from German Football Circles

Jürgen Klinsmann also had his say on the US broadcaster ESPN and spoke of a very sad day. "Es ist ein sehr trauriger Tag für uns alle in Deutschland, das haben wir nicht erwartet," said the former head coach. The manner of the elimination was "niederschmetternd, eine Peinlichkeit" and just as terrible as in Qatar four years ago and Russia eight years ago. Klinsmann demanded consequences: "Konsequenzen, was auch immer diese Konsequenzen sein mögen."

Celebrations in Paraguay

In Paraguay, meanwhile, the victory was celebrated as a historic moment. President Santiago Peña declared a national holiday for the day after the match on the platform X and shortly thereafter signed a corresponding decree. Peña wrote: "PARAGUAY GIBT NIEMALS AUF! FEIERTAG, VERDAMMT NOCH MAL!" In a further post, it read: "Heute feiert ein ganzes Land. Es feiert den Sieg einer Nationalmannschaft, die das Wesentliche unserer Identität verkörpert: den Kampfgeist, den Glauben und die Stärke eines Volkes, das niemals aufgibt." The victory was only the second knockout-round win for Paraguay at a World Championship, the first dating from 2010 in South Africa.

Beyond the sporting events, the early elimination also has economic consequences. For reaching the round of 16, FIFA paid the DFB approximately 11 million US dollars (around 9.65 million euros). A quarterfinal berth would have added a further 4 million dollars, with the eventual world champion receiving a total of 50 million dollars. Rettig had already noted before the tournament that European associations without a semifinal appearance could barely break even financially. The group-stage exits in Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 had already cost the association significant losses.

Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer meanwhile declared the round of 16 match against Paraguay to be his last international in an interview with ARD-Sportschau. "Ja," the 40-year-old confirmed when asked about ending his career with the DFB team. On MagentaTV he said: "Nein, das ist extrem bitter, so aufzuhören." Neuer had been surprisingly brought back as number one by Nagelsmann before the tournament, after he had effectively retired from the national team following Euro 2024. A decision that had previously already sparked public debate about the role of Oliver Baumann.

In Germany, an average of 17.57 million viewers watched the penalty shootout on ZDF, which achieved a market share of 74.5 percent. According to the broadcaster, the German team's four matches were the most-watched broadcasts of the tournament to date. ARD and ZDF announced they would maintain their remaining programming schedule – but without German participation. Paraguay faces the winner of the match between France and Sweden in the quarterfinals.

The German team will have to reorganize itself after the return home. For the 2028 European Championship, which is set to take place in Great Britain and Ireland, the DFB team has not yet qualified. Whether Nagelsmann will lead the team into this tournament preparation remains open for now following the postponement by the DFB leadership.