Julian Nagelsmann has resigned as head coach of the Germany national team with immediate effect, according to BILD. The 38-year-old's departure follows a 3.5-hour crisis meeting at DFB headquarters in Frankfurt on July 2.
Nagelsmann accepted the German Football Association's request to step down after being told he could either resign voluntarily to "leave with his head held high" or face formal dismissal. The DFB's official public announcement is expected imminently.
The decision comes four days after Germany suffered their first-ever penalty shootout defeat in World Cup history, losing 3-4 on penalties to Paraguay following a 1-1 draw in extra time in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Paraguay are ranked 41st in the world, 31 places below Germany.
DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, Managing Director Andreas Rettig, Sporting Director Rudi Völler, and Bundesliga President Hans-Joachim Watzke were all present at the crisis meeting.
Nagelsmann reportedly delivered a "brutally honest" tactical breakdown of the campaign but failed to convince the hierarchy of his future.
"If you are eliminated by Paraguay, you are just not a first-class football team. I am very disappointed, " Nagelsmann said after the defeat.
He had initially stated on June 30 that he would not resign voluntarily, insisting: "I'm not someone who runs away."
Neuendorf had set the tone within 16 hours of the Paraguay loss, stating: "After such a devastating setback, and considering the challenges ahead, we cannot and will not simply return to business as usual."
Nagelsmann was appointed in September 2023 and had his contract extended in January 2025 to run through UEFA Euro 2028.
He will receive a severance package of approximately €7 million, equivalent to roughly one year of his salary, according to BILD and RTL.
Germany topped their group at the tournament, beating Curacao 7-1 and Ivory Coast 2-1 before losing 2-1 to Ecuador. However, the early knockout exit to a lower-ranked nation proved fatal to Nagelsmann's tenure.
Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp is the clear favourite to succeed Nagelsmann.
Klopp currently serves as global head of football for the Red Bull network, but reports indicate his contract contains a release clause specifically allowing him to accept the Germany job.
Nagelsmann's exit adds to a growing list of managerial casualties from the 2026 World Cup, with Marcelo Bielsa leaving Uruguay and Sebastián Beccacece departing Ecuador in recent days.
