Sports

DFB’s sporting director Rudi Völler may leave in wake of fresh World Cup humiliation

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 29: Director of the German team Rudi Völler during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay at Boston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Foxborough, United States. (Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images) | CameraSport via Getty Images

Germany’s loss to Paraguay in the World Cup’s Round of 32 is a fresh humiliation in the recent history of German football, consigning the 2014 World Cup winners to no knockout round victories since their big triumph. Germans might tend to be set in their ways but even the Deutscher Fußballbund (DFB) know that change is needed. Already, managing director Andreas Rettig will not continue in his post past the end of 2026 while manager Julian Nagelsmann has been let go (with Jürgen Klopp rumored to be his successor). According to german news site Sport1 (as captured by @iMiaSanMia), sporting director Rudi Völler could be the next to go:

Rudi Völler is considering stepping down from his sporting director role at the DFB and could announce his decision as early as next week. Völler was very important to Julian Nagelsmann as mentor and confidant – but with Jürgen Klopp’s imminent appointment, he’s unlikely to retain the same status and importance.

At this point, Germany needs to overhaul the organization. The hope is that what comes next will be much better than what came before. Otherwise the cycle will continue all over again.


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