World Cup triumph for Germany? Thomas Müller is skeptical | OneFootball

Thomas Müller has mixed feelings about the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada. The 2014 World Cup winner, who is now continuing his career with the Vancouver Whitecaps, has a sober assessment of the German national team’s chances – and is not sparing with his criticism

In an interview with kicker, the long-serving Bayern professional made it clear that he does not see Germany as one of the favourites. „We have enough quality to beat any top nation on a single day. But conversely, I don’t see the stability that we would be hard to beat,“ explained Müller. That is precisely the difference between a co-favourite and an outsider

„Can I beat someone or am I myself very difficult to beat? That’s why we’re not one of the narrow favorites,“ the 36-year-old continued, an assessment that comes as no surprise given the fluctuating performances of recent years

„The transition has failed“

photo: IMAGO

Müller fundamentally recognizes structural problems in German soccer. In his view, the transition after the 2018 World Cup debacle was „unsuccessful“. The new generation lacks formative figures in top European teams that regularly reach the semi-finals or finals of the Champions League

This international impact must return if Germany wants to be one of the „top three candidates“ for a World Cup title again. At the same time, Müller is calling for a clear attitude for the tournament. Every player must „throw everything into the scales to make the final possible“. Of course, he doesn’t begrudge the DFB team the title – but the starting position remains realistic

World Cup euphoria in Vancouver

While Müller analyzes the sport critically, he is experiencing the World Cup anticipation in Canada at first hand. In Vancouver, the tournament is already a big topic. „People are already talking about the World Cup a lot, comparing it to the 2010 Winter Olympics,“ he reported

Müller believes the co-hosts are capable of springing a surprise, adding that Canada has developed strongly in recent years and has other exciting players alongside Alphonso Davies. „The round of 16 or even the quarter-finals would certainly be a big deal for Canada,“ said Müller

For Germany, on the other hand, the role remains clearly defined for the time being: dangerous, but not dominant. And it is precisely this classification from the mouth of a world champion that weighs heavily