Deniz Undav Ahead of World Cup Debut: Contract in Stuttgart, Goals on His Mind

Immediately before departing for the World Cup, Undav had secured his future at VfB Stuttgart with the early contract extension until mid-2029. "Das war für mich wichtig, auch für den Kopf. Es ging schnell – bamm, bamm, bamm," he described the conclusion. The swift agreement apparently gave the striker additional tailwind for the upcoming tasks with the national team.

Contract Extension in Stuttgart

Sportingly, Undav arrives with a strong record. In nine international matches, he has scored six times, needing on average just 72 minutes per goal — a remarkable tally for a player considered the number-one "nine" in the DFB hierarchy behind Kai Havertz. "Ich kann auf beiden Positionen spielen. Und die Saison hat gezeigt, dass ich meine Tore schießen kann. Egal, ob man reinkommt oder beginnt, mein Job ist, Tore zu machen, ob auf der Neun oder der Zehn," the Stuttgart player explained.

However, Undav does not automatically see his place in the starting lineup up front. He "is likely to start the tournament as a substitute," according to an assessment of the sporting situation. He embraces this role offensively: "Wenn wir Tore brauchen, muss ich Tore machen. Tore machen ist mein Job," he said. Whenever the head coach calls on him, he wants to deliver, according to the 29-year-old.

Role in the DFB Team

In the final warm-up match before the tournament — a 4:0 win over Finland — Undav had picked up a knock, which healed quickly, however. "Zwei, drei Tage, danach war alles wieder okay," he reported. The injury around the gluteal area is therefore no longer an issue for World Cup preparations.

With regard to his own ambitions, Undav was combative. "Wenn ich sagen würde, ich will nur ins Achtelfinale, dann wäre ich falsch hier," he made clear. An early tournament phase is not enough for him — the striker wants to go as far as possible with the DFB team.

Outlook on the Tournament

The first group match kicks off on Sunday (7:00 p.m./ARD and MagentaTV) in Houston against Curaçao. Before then, head coach Julian Nagelsmann will decide in what formation he will start the tournament — and whether Undav will already play a role in the opening match or initially take a seat on the bench.

With the combination of contractual security, goal-scoring rate, and winner's mentality, the Offenbach-born player brings along the qualities that Nagelsmann demands of a modern striker. Undav himself sees it similarly and points to his flexibility: he can operate as a classic "nine" through the middle or as a withdrawn "ten" behind — precisely the tactical versatility that can decide victory or defeat at a World Cup.