Germany's sporting director Rudi Voeller to step down after 2026 World Cup

German Football Association (DFB) sporting director Rudi Voeller has announced that he will step down from his current position at the conclusion of the next World Cup in 2026, which will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
In an interview with the ‘Bild am Sonntag’ newspaper, the former Mannschaft striker made his decision known: "For me, of course, it will end in 2026. In fact, I wanted to finish now," said the former international, who added that it was the continuity of coach Julian Nagelsmann that has made him postpone his resignation.
Voeller took over as Germany's sporting director after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and his first major decision at the helm was to appoint the former Bayern coach to the national team's bench following the sacking of Hansi Flick, a year after a 4-1 friendly defeat to Japan. "The dream solution," says the sporting director.
In the same interview, the former Roma, Bayer Leverkusen and Olympique Marseille player announced an official farewell tribute to the four players who retired at the end of the European Championship: Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos, Thomas Muller and Ilkay Gundogan.
"At one of our next home games we will say goodbye to our players and give everything a nice and appropriate atmosphere," explained Voeller.