Germany may be out of the World Cup, but the tournament continues – and the DFB is boycotting the final. The German Football Association announced that no representative will attend the Argentina vs. Spain final on Sunday (9 PM) in East Rutherford. This is a clear snub to FIFA president Gianni Infantino and US President Donald Trump, who is expected as a guest of honor. Last result: Germany 1-1 Paraguay (2026-06-29).
Why is the DFB absent from the World Cup final?
DFB president Bernd Neuendorf, as a FIFA Council member, had a reserved seat in the VIP tribune. However, after Germany's early exit in the round of 16 (3-4 on penalties against Paraguay), the DFB had already stated that Neuendorf would not attend any more matches. His deputy, Hans-Joachim Watzke, a UEFA Executive Committee member, is also skipping the final. Instead, the two flew to New York last week-not for football, but to meet with Jürgen Klopp about a potential return as national team coach.
DFB denies Infantino support
The DFB is one of the few associations that has not yet signed a letter of support for Infantino's 2027 re-election. While other football officials will be present at the final, the DFB is staying away as a protest. Instead, they are focusing on Klopp: The former Liverpool manager will commentate on the final for MagentaTV alongside Per Mertesacker, who is being considered for the role of DFB managing director.
What's next for the German national team?
After the disappointing World Cup exit, the German team is facing a fresh start. With recent form (last 5): 3W-1D-1L (DLWWW, most recent first), the team has shown more stability in recent matches. The next game is on September 24 against the Netherlands. Until then, it will become clear whether Jürgen Klopp will indeed take over as the new national team coach and lead the team back to success.
