Nadiem Amiri: 'Never thought I'd be at the World Cup'
Key takeaways
- The Mainz midfielder with Afghan roots has become a key member of Germany's 2026 World Cup squad.
- "If you have a youth coach and you know each other early and for a long time, then it's always a special relationship," said Amiri.
- And after just the second game at this tournament, Nagelsmann can be grateful that Amiri delivered what he wanted from the midfielder exactly when the team needed it.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
The Mainz midfielder with Afghan roots has become a key member of Germany's 2026 World Cup squad. Coach Julian Nagelsmann said Amiri can provide the team a spark when it's most needed.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Frvs Nadiem Amiri (right) has had quite the journey from forgotten footballer to German international Image: Markus Ulmer/Ulmer/Teamfoto/IMAGOAdvertisement Fourteen years on from the moment Nadiem Amiri joined Hoffenheim's youth teams and played for a young coach called Julian Nagelsmann, the pair are together in the US, Canada and Mexico representing Germany at the World Cup.
"If you have a youth coach and you know each other early and for a long time, then it's always a special relationship," said Amiri. "There were so many amazing moments together and that shapes us. We have a good connection, and he was always in touch even when he wasn't my coach. I have a lot of respect for Julian and am grateful to him."