Agency Report –
German Football Federation (DFB) general manager Andreas Rettig has admitted to mixed feelings about the United States being World Cup hosts next year, after Donald Trump became US president again.
The US will host the June 11-July 19, 2026 tournament for 48 teams together with Mexico and Canada.
“In these turbulent times, we are actually realising that the framework of values and social perspectives are changing. Who would have thought that we would be eyeing the USA the way we do today,” Rettig told broadcasters RTL/ntv.
“We no longer know who is friend and who is foe. We knew that the USA would be the next hosts. Until recently, we were really looking forward to it, but now there’s perhaps a drop of bitterness.”
Rettig was speaking ahead of Germany’s Nations League quarter-final tie with Italy on Thursday in Milan and Sunday in Dortmund. Depending on the outcome, Germany will start World Cup qualifying in June or September.
Looking at how to deal with domestic far right party Alernative for Germany (AfD) in politics, Rettig said one should not “freeze.”
“I would like to approach things the way a good coach would, namely in a self-determined and active way,” Rettig said.
“Not looking too much at what the opponent is doing, but developing strategies out of our own conviction and moving things forward. More activity in the game and less opponent-orientated tactics.”
The AfD garnered 20.8% of the vote in last month’s general election, making it the second strongest party. It is rated a confirmed right-wing extremist group by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency in three eastern states.
