DFB Team in Chicago: Nagelsmann's first World Cup as | allfacts360
DFB Team lands in Chicago: Nagelsmann begins his first World Cup as national coach
Chicago, June 3, 2026
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Summary
The German national football team has landed in Chicago and begun immediate preparations for the World Cup in the USA. National coach Julian Nagelsmann used the arrival day for an evening walk along Lake Michigan with the entire team before the friendly match against the USA on Saturday.
Chicago, June 3, 2026
The German national football team landed at O'Hare Airport in Chicago on Wednesday evening (local time), marking the start of immediate preparations for the World Cup in the USA, which begins on June 14 in Houston against Curaçao.
Arrival after eight hours on the plane
After a flight of around eight hours, the DFB squad reached O'Hare Airport. The subsequent bus journey to the hotel took more than two hours due to evening rush hour traffic, according to consistent reports. The team is staying at the Waldorf Astoria, a 60-story building in downtown Chicago. The team bus bore the inscription "Windstar."
National coach Julian Nagelsmann used the rest of the evening to take a walk along the shore of Lake Michigan with the entire team. "It's simply about absorbing the emotion and also arriving at the tournament, so to speak," the 38-year-old said, according to available reports. It is his first World Cup in the role of head coach of the national team.
First tough test against the USA on Saturday
The sporting kickoff in the USA will be on Saturday at 8:30 PM (local time) with the friendly match against the USA, which will be held at Soldier Field. The stadium has a capacity of over 60,000 spectators and, according to the organizers, is sold out for the match. RTL will broadcast the game. Nagelsmann expects a special atmosphere: "I think it will be a very emotional game."
Before the match against the Americans, the team has two training days at the facility of MLS club Chicago Fire. The sessions are not open to the public. Soldier Field is normally home to the NFL team Chicago Bears. During the stadium tour, the participants noticed LED banner advertising, which promoted, among other things, an Ed Sheeran concert at the end of June and a friendly match between Liverpool and Leeds United in August.
Tournament start against Curaçao on June 14
The World Cup tournament begins on June 14 in Houston with the encounter against World Cup newcomer Curaçao. In addition to Curaçao, Germany's group opponents are Ivory Coast and Ecuador. The final is scheduled for July 19. The USA is hosting a World Cup for the second time, having last served as host in 1994.
Open personnel questions before the start
Regarding the squad, personnel issues continue to play a central role in the reporting. "Yes, these role-playing games have taken up a very large part of the reporting in recent weeks and months," Nagelsmann commented. Manuel Neuer is fighting for his return to the team after a calf strain; his comeback in the DFB goal is considered uncertain, although Oliver Baumann had recently been number one and had received assurances about the role.
According to reports, young players Lennart Karl and Nathaniel Brown are pushing for a starting spot and could displace David Raum and Leroy Sané. Felix Nmecha is also described as a player in strong form. At the same time, the past qualification was marked by personnel setbacks: Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz had not played a single minute of qualification due to injuries and are now on their way back to the regular starting lineup. Havertz joins the team after the Champions League final defeat with FC Arsenal.
Völler as companion, Hoeneß as critic
According to available information, Nick Woltemade is the German top scorer in qualification. Leon Goretzka and Woltemade are reportedly no longer necessarily considered regulars. The overall sporting situation had also recently led to public criticism: Uli Hoeneß, honorary president of Bayern Munich, had accused Nagelsmann of not having a cohesive World Cup squad.
On the team bus after landing in Chicago, Rudi Völler was the first to leave the vehicle, with Nagelsmann being the last to disembark. For the 66-year-old Völler, this is his fifth World Cup since 1986, the first in his capacity as DFB Sporting Director. The team successfully completed qualification in November of the previous year.
On Thursday and Friday, the DFB team will have closed training sessions in Chicago. Afterwards, the team will travel on to Houston, where the first competitive match of the tournament is scheduled for June 14. Even Saturday evening's duel against the USA is considered an important morale test for Nagelsmann.
Looking ahead to the rest of the tournament, officials emphasized that the squad is expected to gain further form in the coming days. The goalkeeping situation involving Neuer and Baumann remains particularly open. It is also unclear in what configuration the attacking line of Havertz, Musiala, and Woltemade will play. Nagelsmann announced that he will use the next training days to clarify these issues.
Logistics and workload in the host country
Logistically, the World Cup preparations remain demanding. The team will travel between venues within the USA, with travel distances sometimes being considerable. Chicago is the first of several stops before and during the tournament. The DFB has brought along an extensive support and functionary team, including medical staff who monitor the players' workload.
For Nagelsmann, the trip to the USA is a milestone not only in sporting terms but also personally. At 38, he is one of the youngest national coaches to be in charge of a World Cup. His tenure so far has been marked by injuries to key players and an intense public debate about the lineup. With the kickoff against Curaçao, the real test of his abilities begins.
Nevertheless, anticipation is palpable within the camp. The team used its first evening in Chicago to gather in a relaxed atmosphere by Lake Michigan. Nagelsmann spoke of absorbing the "emotion" of the tournament. The team enters the competition with the ambition to put the early exits in past major tournaments behind them.
Questions & Answers
When and where does the World Cup begin for the German team?
The German national team plays its first World Cup match on June 14 in Houston against World Cup newcomer Curaçao. The tournament final is scheduled for July 19.
What is Rudi Völler's role in this World Cup?
According to available reports, Rudi Völler is participating in his fifth World Cup since 1986, for the first time in the capacity of DFB Sporting Director. He is traveling with the team and supporting the delegation.
What is the status of Manuel Neuer before the tournament?
According to reports, Manuel Neuer is struggling with a calf strain; his comeback in the German goal is uncertain. Oliver Baumann had recently been number one but apparently has to fight for his place.
