World Cup: Amiri another wildcard for Nagelsmann's Germany
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.
- "I knew my moment would come," said Amiri, who has met in an exemplary fashion the expectation that Julian Nagelsmann has of him as a substitute who delivers instant results.
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 with 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 USA, 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."