Julian Nagelsmann Resigns After Germany's Shock FIFA World Cup Exit; Klopp Emerges As Frontrunner

Last Updated:July 03, 2026, 12:38 IST

Julian Nagelsmann has resigned as Germany coach after the four-time champions crashed out to Paraguay, with Jurgen Klopp emerging as the favourite to replace him.

Germany’s disastrous FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign has claimed its first major casualty, with head coach Julian Nagelsmann resigning in the wake of the four-time champions’ stunning Round of 32 exit to Paraguay.

According to Sky Sports, the German Football Association (DFB) held a three-and-a-half-hour crisis meeting on Thursday following Germany’s penalty shootout defeat, after which the federation’s leadership strongly advised Nagelsmann to step aside.

The 37-year-old, who took charge in 2023 after successful spells at Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig, opted to resign rather than be dismissed. The decision is expected to see him receive around £5 million in compensation.

“After such a devastating setback, and considering the challenges ahead, we cannot and will not simply return to business as usual," DFB president Bernd Neuendorf said in a statement, roughly 16 hours after Germany’s heartbreaking exit.

Nagelsmann had initially indicated he wanted to continue despite the crushing defeat.

“If you are eliminated by Paraguay, you are just not a first-class football team. I am very disappointed," he admitted after the match.

“If the DFB wants me to continue I am going to continue. I know the mechanics of football, I know how the industry works.

“I know a lot of people will want me to leave but I would love to continue if the football association wants me to."

Instead, the DFB has chosen to begin a new chapter following one of the biggest upsets in World Cup knockout history.

Paraguay, ranked 41st in the FIFA rankings, knocked out 10th-ranked Germany after a tense contest that ended 3-4 on penalties following a controversial evening featuring several VAR interventions.

The 31-place gap between the two sides makes it one of the biggest ranking upsets in World Cup knockout history, behind only Spain’s defeats to Russia in 2018 and South Korea in 2002, and Italy’s loss to South Korea in 2002.

Klopp Available?

Attention has already shifted towards Jurgen Klopp.

The former Liverpool manager, currently working as a television pundit for German broadcaster Magenta during the World Cup, has previously expressed his willingness to coach the national team.

“I am available. If the DFB wants it, then I will do the Euro 2028, and if not then they have to tell me. I’m not someone who runs away," Klopp said earlier in the tournament.

While no official successor has been named, Sky Sports reports that Klopp is now firmly in the frame.

About the Author

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His...Read More

News sports football Julian Nagelsmann Resigns After Germany's Shock FIFA World Cup Exit; Klopp Emerges As Frontrunner

Read More