After the successful qualification for the 2026 World Cup and the draw for the tournament groups, preparations for the German national football team are in full swing. On Monday, another test match opponent was announced for national coach Julian Nagelsmann’s selection.
As the German Football Association announced, the German national team is starting the World Cup year with an international match in Switzerland. The first of four tournament tests will take place on March 27th in Basel.
“Since the draw, the World Cup has been within reach for all of us – and the anticipation of a top-class sporting tournament is huge,” Julian Nagelsmann was quoted as saying: “Now every training session and, above all, every international match on the way to the World Cup is doubly valuable.”
Switzerland is “a great opponent less than three months before we start the tournament, they will demand everything from us. The games against Switzerland were always special – that will be no different this time either.”
The last of 54 duels with the Swiss (36 wins, nine defeats) took place at the home European Championship. On June 23, 2024 it was 1-1 in Frankfurt, the German goal was scored by Niclas Füllkrug shortly before the end (90th + 2).
DFB is looking for a replacement for Ivory Coast
With the appointment, the timetable for the XXL tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada is becoming more and more concrete. Only the second opponent on March 30th is open after the DFB team was drawn into Group E with Ivory Coast in the World Cup draw last Friday. The second test was actually supposed to be against the African champions.
Video: Nagelsmann: “The group is viewed too poorly”
On the sidelines of the draw in Washington, Nagelsmann reported that the DFB already had “alternatives” for the third-to-last international match before the final round, which will take place in Stuttgart. On May 31st, captain Joshua Kimmich and Co. will say goodbye to the German fans against Finland in Mainz, and on June 2nd they will travel across the pond from Frankfurt/Main.
The dress rehearsal for the World Cup will take place on June 6th in Chicago against the USA. Eight days later, the four-time world champion starts the tournament in Houston against newcomers Curacao. Other opponents in Group E include Ivory Coast in Toronto on June 20 and Ecuador in East Rutherford five days later.
