Will Lionel Messi play in the 2026 MLS All-Star Game?

The Inter Miami superstar has yet to officially return to the club following his 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with Argentina, which ended with a 1-0 loss to Spain in the final at New York New Jersey Stadium.

Messi was named to the MLS All-Star roster for a third straight season, but will the 39-year-old make an appearance? Here is everything we know about Messi’s status for the 2026 MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday at Bank of America Stadium:

Will Messi Play In The MLS All-Star Game?

(Photo by Giorgio Viera / AFP via Getty Images)

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No, Messi will not play in the 2026 MLS All-Star Game. Major League Soccer on Saturday named four replacements for Wednesday’s All-Star Game and removed Messi from the roster, along with his Inter Miami and Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul. The Chicago Fire’s Hugo Cuypers (transfer) and Mbekezeli Mbokazi (injury) were also removed.

Will Messi Be Suspended?

No, Messi will not be suspended for missing this year’s All-Star Game. While Messi and his Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba were suspended for making the last-minute decision to not participate in the MLS All-Star Game last season, both Messi and De Paul’s absences will be excused because they just returned from the World Cup.

Has Messi Ever Played In The MLS All-Star Game?

No. Despite being named to the last three MLS All-Star rosters, Messi has never participated in the league’s All-Star Weekend. Messi missed the 2024 All-Star Game with an ankle injury he sustained in the 2024 Copa América, and he chose not to play in the 2025 All-Star Game.

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Shohei Ohtani skipped a tentatively scheduled bullpen session Saturday and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the two-way superstar won’t throw off a mound again until his irritated left knee feels 100%.

“We’re just going to kick the can,” Roberts said before his team played the New York Mets. “I think like I said yesterday, we’re not going to move forward until he feels 100% confident (and) we feel 100% confident that we should do it.”

Ohtani hasn’t pitched in a game since July 3. But the Dodgers say his knee doesn’t bother him while batting, and the four-time MVP has remained in the starting lineup regularly.

The two-time defending World Series champions began the day with the best record in the majors at 66-38 and an 11-game lead in the NL West over Arizona.

Ohtani received a lubricant injection just before the All-Star break and Roberts said last weekend it would be “some time” before Ohtani makes his next appearance as a pitcher.

The right-hander then threw about 30 pitches off a mound Wednesday during a bullpen session in Philadelphia, but Roberts said Ohtani felt a “little bit of regression.”

“It was obviously not ideal, him throwing his last bullpen and going backwards essentially,” Roberts said. “So, obviously, that’s disappointing because you throw a bullpen, you continue to build up. So that was disappointing, but as far as worry, concern, we don’t have any of that.”

Ohtani is 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings over 14 starts on the mound this season and has won his past six decisions. He entered Saturday batting .286 with 22 homers, 61 RBIs and a .920 OPS.

In other injury updates, two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell made a second rehab start Friday night for Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Sidelined since his season debut May 9 because of loose bodies in his pitching elbow, the left-hander threw 49 pitches and allowed one run and two hits in 2 2/3 innings. Roberts said Snell likely will progress to four innings in his third rehab outing.

Star closer Edwin Diaz (right elbow surgery) will make another rehab appearance Sunday for Oklahoma City and, if all goes well, the right-hander is expected to be activated from the injured list Wednesday.

Tyler Glasnow, on the 60-day IL since May 8 because of low back spasms, threw 25 pitches in one simulated inning Friday. Glasnow will pitch in another simulated game next week when the Dodgers return home and might start a rehab assignment after that.

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald is ready to turn the page after capturing the franchise’s second Super Bowl in his second season at the helm.

“Look, I’m different than I was this time last year. I’m different than I was at the end of the season. We got, I don’t know, 30 percent of our rosters probably different,” Macdonald said Saturday. “We got changes to our coaching staff. We got guys with a new perspective. … We’re all kind of new people here in this situation, which, by definition, makes us a new team too.”

Seattle opened training camp with much of its core in place. It did, however, lose key contributors this past offseason, such as Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III (Chiefs), safety Coby Bryant (Bears), linebacker Boye Mafe (Bengals), and cornerback Rig Woolen (Eagles).

It is unclear whether Seattle intends to replace Walker’s production, either by committee, with the likes of Emanuel Wilson, who was signed in free agency after three seasons with the Green Bay Packers, rookie Jadarian Price, George Holani and Kenny McIntosh. Or, if the injured Zach Charbonnet will become the main option once he’s healthy.

Charbonnet was placed on the physically unable to perform list before camp after tearing his ACL in the divisional game against the San Francisco 49ers.

He and Walker were part of a committee approach most of last season, but Charbonnett received a bulk of the carries in the red zone and capitalized with a career-high 12 touchdowns.

“He’s just attacked the heck out of the offseason in his rehab, as you’d expect, and the returns have been what he deserved,” Macdonald said.

The Seahawks had a welcoming sight as second-year wide receiver Tory Horton was healthy and running routes all afternoon after a shin injury ended his season prematurely after a scintillating start to his rookie campaign.

After missing minicamp and OTA’s, there was optimism he would be ready to go at the start of training camp.

“It’s great to see Tory back out there,” Macdonald said.

Horton, a fifth-round pick out of Colorado State, scored six touchdowns in his first eight games with Seattle before he was placed on the injured reserve in November.

He provides depth to an already deep wide receiver room with AP Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Cupp and last season’s midseason acquisition Rashid Shaheed. 

(Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images)

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The Seahawks also placed standout safety Nick Emmanwori on the PUP list after recently having ankle surgery, but there’s expectation he will be ready for their Wednesday night opener on Sept. 9 in a rematch with the New England Patriots.

He suffered a low sprain four days before the Super Bowl, but played through the injury.

“I think the best way to describe it is something that he’s been dealing with since the Super Bowl,” Macdonald said. “He was able to perform, did some things in the offseason program, but he just got to the point where it was the best for him for the long term to just go ahead and get it fixed.”

Emmanwori had 11 passes defended, an interception and 2.5 sacks in 14 games for Seattle.

But Macdonald wouldn’t confirm — or deny — that the runner-up for Rookie of the Year would be available.

“He could play in the opener,” Macdonald said.

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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NASHVILLE Superspeedway (Lebanon, Tenn.) — Alex Palou got the track position, and then everyone knew he had the talent that makes him hard to beat.

Palou was able to sneak in the pits just before the caution came out with 102 laps remaining, and then was able to keep that track position, including holding off defending Nashville winner Josef Newgarden in the final 31-lap green-flag run Monday for his fifth win of the year.

The Chip Ganassi Racing driver, the three-time defending series champion, now has an 83-point lead in the standings with six races left in the season as he seeks his fifth overall title.

“I’m just so happy that everything worked,” Palou said in his postrace news conference. 

Alex Palou followed up celebrating Spain’s World Cup victory with a win at Nashville.

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Here are my takeaways from the race that was postponed from Sunday night because of heavy downpours on the 1.33-mile concrete oval:

1. Newgarden Frustrated

Josef Newgarden, even being on the softer tires that should have allowed him to be a little faster for at least a few laps while Palou chose the hard tires for his final run, couldn’t catch Palou down the end.

The Team Penske driver believed Palou would have had to make a mistake for him to get by: “The restart was what it was. Unless you have a full stint, there’s your stack right there [to the finish].”

Palou felt he could be in trouble, not believing that simply track position would mean he would prevail: “I knew it was going to be very tough just because I saw how [Newgarden] was racing at the beginning of the race with Kyle [Kirkwood]. They were both flat out. … I was not confident at all.”

Josef Newgarden was frustrated with his second-place finish on Monday.

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2. Malukas’ Big Comeback

Two days after going to the hospital for X-rays and scans on his badly bruised right knee, David Malukas recovered from that crash in practice and starting 24th to finishing third.

So while his teammate Newgarden was frustrated ahead of him, Malukas was excited even if he was thoroughly exhausted from the heat, which had already spurred INDYCAR officials to announce Sunday night that the event would be reduced from 300 laps to 225 laps.

“I had almost no time the past few days to get fluids,” Malukas said in his postrace news conference and after his visit to to the medical center. “We weren’t even getting fluids yesterday.

“After that race we knew it was probably going to be a thing. I felt really good, the adrenaline started to wear off, things started to get a little spinny there. I got fluids, picked me up on a little bit of sugar. I’m good.”

David Malukas recovered from a crash in practice for an impressive third-place finish.

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3. Schumacher’s First Top-10

Former Formula 1 driver Mick Schumacher earned the first top-10 of his career as he placed eighth at Nashville. Some would say that was because it was more of a track position race, but Schumacher did consistently get track position and didn’t make mistakes.

“The pace has always been good enough for a top-10,” he told me and another reporter after the race. “To actually put it on track is a great achievement — but I knew it was possible all along. … It was consistent on the communication, we had no issues in the pits, a nice, solid race.”

Schumacher’s future in INDYCAR is unclear whether he will return to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing or possibly go to another team or even make the INDYCAR experience a one-year-and-done quest.

Maybe finishing top 10 on an oval is just what he needed to show what he can do.

“The pace overall this year has been showing that anyways,” Schumacher said. “People know what they get, and obviously, this hopefully will put it into the books that we are able to do this consistently.

“I think there’s a high chance that I’ll be here next year.”

Former F1 driver Mick Schumacher earned the first top 10 of his INDYCAR career.

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4. Dixon-Rossi Strange Crash 

Scott Dixon slammed into the back of Alex Rossi when Rossi slowed to pit in a strange accident.

Rossi seemed flabbergasted when he talked to reporters outside the INDYCAR medical unit: “It’s insane. I love Scott. I don’t want to say anything bad. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do in that situation.”

Dixon seemed just as curious about how it all unfolded.

“He was kind of struggling a little bit,” Dixon told me and another reporter. “He was kind of running the high line. I had a pretty good run, went to the low—the same with the lap before, and then he kind of covered the low side. And then on the next lap, when I had a better run, I went to the low side.

“Then he went low, and so I went lower, and then all of a sudden he kind of moved back up again, which I thought he was kind of letting me go. And then he slammed on the brakes to come into the pits. So I had no idea that he was coming into the pits [from the] middle of the track. It was unfortunate.”

4 ½. What’s next: Portland

The INDYCAR Series takes two weeks off before racing Aug. 9 in Portland.

That will start a brutal five-week stretch with six races to finish off the season: Portland, Markham (Toronto suburb), Washington D.C., Milwaukee (two-race weekend) and Laguna Seca.

WHAT YOU SHOULD READ NEXT

Current McLaren drivers Nolan Siegel and Christian Lundgaard are the most prominent names looking for 2027 jobs. They discuss the process.

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Earlier in June, days before the start of the 2026 World Cup, as I began to walk around the streets of New York in order to get a better sense of the energy that was building towards the tournament, I decided to head to Jackson Heights in Queens. 

For those who don’t know, the neighborhood is a world within itself. It is a multicultural melting pot, a micro-community where blocks become nations and diasporas tell you who they are through their shop windows or small businesses. It is Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, India and South Asia, serving you some of the best food you will ever have. 

It is a place that fully defines my sentiment of how diversity empowers our senses and for the World Cup. The fans are everywhere, proudly representing their people, their national team and cultural habits. My favorite Colombian bakery had a replica of the World Cup at its store window next to an image of Luis Díaz. An Ecuadorian food stall had a poster of the ageless wonder Enner Valencia. Mexican flags were not just on food trucks, they were on sidewalks and lampposts. A store selling replica World Cup shirts showed me a rainbow of what was about to come: a beautiful celebration of the greatest game.

A few days later after my trip to Queens, as the World Cup was arriving, I kept walking and talking, meeting different faces and experiences. From a Senegalese chef in Harlem to a Norwegian restaurateur in Soho. From an English owner on the Upper East Side to an Egyptian family-based spot lower down in LES. 

All of them talked to me, happy and excited, wearing their national team shirts, about their World Cup memories and how the nostalgia of the past connects them to the hope of the present and the joy of seeing their nation on the biggest stage of all. I bumped into a Scottish family, asking me about the best places to find a bagel. I sent them to Leo’s in the financial district, and then we waxed poetically about the wonder of John McGinn. 

And this was just New York City. Before the tournament had even started.

And that’s when I knew that this World Cup would be special. Not because of the extravagancy or the size of the stadiums. Not because of the halftime show or the celebrity sightings. Not because of the merchandise or price of tickets. Not because of VAR — or even the players. 

This World Cup, quite simply, was special because of you. 

THROUGHOUT THE TOURNAMENT, across three nations and 16 cities in Mexico, Canada and the United States, fans from all over the world traveled to not just support their team, but to be with one another. Yes, opponents on the pitch are clearly evident in this game, but outside of it — the sentiment was one of family, where sharing each other’s cultural gifts to the world was now becoming a gift to each other. 

Kansas City welcomed Algeria as one of its own, whilst Norway’s iconic Viking row took over the home field of the New York Mets. More than 50,000 Scottish fans drank Boston dry and this only made them become more connected to the city. The mayor held a welcoming ceremony last week for a traffic cone, which is now a symbolic gesture of appreciation after the Tartan Army faithful placed them on top of Boston statues during its run at the World Cup.    

Then there was the couple in Arlington, Texas, who created a lemonade stand for fans walking up to the stadium. In the end, supporters from all over the world bought a cup and left messages from around the world, thanking them for the hospitality.  

I met a Paraguayan family who runs a beautiful restaurant in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Queens where the entire community would come, watch and celebrate its team doing the almost impossible after beating Germany. 

Or how about Oasis’ “Wonderwall” becoming an anthem of nostalgia for England — sung from all corners of the ancient streets of Mexico City to neon-lit boulevards of Miami. 

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Or how about the Mexican fan I connected with, who was once a server in Cancún, immigrated to the U.S. more than two decades ago and built an empire of restaurants in New Jersey. Or the Colombians in Hackensack, New Jersey. Or the Haitians in Brooklyn, Argentinians in North Miami and South Koreans in Los Angeles. 

Then we have the thousands of videos of pure joy, the reaction of what it meant to taste ranch dressing for the first time. The casual conversations with strangers. The commitment to learning about one another. It truly restored my faith in humanity. 

AS MY HERO, ANTHONY BOURDAIN once said, travel and exploration of new places and communities isn’t always graceful or pretty, but the journey changes you, leaving a lasting mark on your heart and consciousness. 

All of these stories, therefore, much like the Panini stickers on the World Cup album, are collected, restored and remembered for eternity. 

There is nothing more precious that the World Cup can give you than this: an invitation to an extended family. The fan is the blood and oxygen of a team. Without it, stadiums — as we remember during COVID-19 — have no soul. No reason to exist. 

But when you see a packed stadium, where voices become one singular wave of energy, it moves you. It makes you appreciate life. 

And so, beautiful fan, that’s why I dedicate this column to you. Because of you, this World Cup awakened us and made us feel alive. That’s what the World Cup is all about: a celebration of the people and their love for the beautiful game, the beautiful us. 

Every Goal From 2026 FIFA World Cup™ ️ 308 Goals Most in FIFA World Cup™ History

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Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz revealed Monday that running back Ahmad Hardy, who suffered a gunshot wound to his leg in May, has been medically cleared to prepare for the upcoming season and used the occasion to offer a comment about gun violence in America.

“Not criticizing the police or the right to bear arms, which is a Second Amendment right,” Drinkwitz said Monday at SEC Media Days. “But just saying there is no place for gun violence, especially for our youth in society.”

Drinkwitz said it could take the running back five to eight weeks before he can play. The coach said it was hard to know how Hardy, who finished second in Bowl Subdivision last year with 1,659 yards, would play if he returns.

“My anticipation of what I’ve seen, the way he’s attacked his rehab: He’s going to be a better Ahmad Hardy than when he was before,” Drinkwitz said.

Hardy was shot while attending a concert in Laurel, Mississippi, on May 10. A few days later, police made an arrest in connection with the shooting and charged Rashodrick Harris of aggravated assault; Harris was released on $500,000 bond.

Drinkwitz said the bullet struck a bone in Hardy’s leg.

The coach said he was proud of the way Hardy, a junior who was seen as a potentially high NFL draft pick if he leaves college after this season, approached his recovery. Drinkwitz also sent a different message on a day in which he discussed Missouri’s prospects for the upcoming season.

“What I want to tell y’all is this was a great opportunity for Ahmad to learn. It was a great opportunity for our student-athletes to learn,” the coach said. “It was also a great reminder that there is no place for gun violence in this world.”

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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Spain captain Rodri has opened up on his emotional journey from a devastating knee injury to lifting the 2026 World Cup trophy in North America. The Manchester City midfielder was named the tournament’s best player after leading La Roja to a historic victory over Argentina in the final.

A Comeback For The Ages

Rodri has revealed his disbelief after captaining Spain to World Cup glory following a grueling recovery from a serious knee injury. The 30-year-old suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage in September 2024, just weeks before he was awarded the Ballon d’Or.

The midfield general was officially named the best player at the 2026 World Cup, beating out Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe to the Golden Ball. Reflecting on his personal battle to reach the summit of the game again, Rodri said: “We’re a bit shocked right now, even myself. I cannot express with words. I think now we’re like in a cloud but, for me, it’s been a very tough time.

“I just want the new generations to see my example as an opportunity. When you go down, you can rise again. This is my philosophy for my entire life.”

Gratitude And Self-Belief

The Spain skipper was quick to acknowledge the support system that helped him return to the pitch, but he also highlighted the internal mental strength required to overcome such a significant physical setback. 

Having led his nation to a 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the final, Rodri’s leadership was praised by teammates and coaching staff alike.

Speaking to FOX Sports after the trophy presentation, Rodri offered a candid assessment of his journey, stating: “Of course, sometimes things go well, things go wrong, but always the positiveness. I said to the lads before the game, ‘we have to go for the game.’ We need to face them, we have to look to their eyes. We want this game.

“And then life gives you the World Cup or not, but we were brave and I was brave in that moment I was down, so I want to thank all the people that helped me. But I want to thank myself, to be honest, in those moments.”

Breaking Records On The World Stage

Beyond individual accolades, Rodri’s leadership has helped this Spanish generation etch their names into the history books. By defeating Argentina, Spain officially set a new unbeaten record in international football, reaching 38 matches without defeat.

Rodri believes the key to their success in North America was the maturity the squad developed since their victory in Berlin two years ago. 

“I think the gap of improvement from the Euros, it was the way this team is matured,” the captain explained. “It’s built on the game, it’s built on every single day. We faced very different opponents, of course, lots of European opponents, but different moments, different type of games.

“And we managed to play all of them, so I think we grow in this sense and this talks about a generation that is making history for our country, as you can see, but also in the way we did it.”

Building A Dynasty

The victory in the 2026 final marks Spain’s second men’s World Cup title, following their initial success in 2010. 

While the Manchester City star was the individual standout, the collective effort under De la Fuente has been the hallmark of their campaign. The team displayed remarkable defensive rigidity, conceding only one goal throughout the entire tournament while maintaining their signature possession-based style.

For Rodri, the focus now turns to his club future as his contract at the Etihad Stadium enters its final year, but his legacy with the national team is already beyond reproach. He has become the heartbeat of a side that balances tactical discipline with flair.

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Spain didn’t just win the 2026 FIFA World Cup; it did it in historic fashion.

With its 1-0 win over Argentina on Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium, Spain broke the all-time streak for matches unbeaten (38), which was previously held by Italy (37) for matches played between 2018 and 2021. During the streak, Spain has recorded 29 wins and nine draws.

Spain’s unbeaten streak joins a list of incredible team streaks of the 21st century. Here are some other unbelievable milestones that have been accomplished by professional sports teams in the last 25 years:

New England Patriots: 21 games

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

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During the 2003-2004 NFL season, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots were a force of nature. Their dominance set the overall record for the most consecutive wins,including regular season and playoffs.

Tom Brady played a huge role in the Patriots’ success in his third season as the team’s starting quarterback. Though they started the season off 2-2, he helped lead the Patriots to a Week 5 win against the Tennessee Titans, kickstarting a streak that would see them win every game for the remainder of the season, through the playoffs, where they beat the Carolina Panthers 32-29 for their second title in three seasons.

The streak came to an end seven games into the following season, against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The only team to come close since then is the Green Bay Packers, who won 19 games from 2010-2011.

Cleveland Guardians: 22 games

(Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB via Getty Images)

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For three weeks, not a single MLB team could stop the Cleveland Guardians (then the Cleveland Indians). During the 2017 MLB season, the Guardians delivered 22 games of absolute mastery to every baseball fan watching. Not a single team came close to topping the Guardians, except for the Yankees, who the Guardians still came out on top against, 2-1. 

Though Cleveland’s streak may have ended with a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals in a 10th-inning walk-off, they still finished the season with 102 wins;only the Los Angeles Dodgers recorded more wins that season. They also managed to beat the Houston Astros five out of the six times they matched up, a team that later on went to win that season’s World Series.

The last team to hold a streak this impressive was the New York Giants in 1916, with a streak of 26 games. But, in the 21st century, the only team that comes close to sniffing the Guardians’ record is the Athletics, with 20. Though they didn’t earn themselves a ring that year, they still managed to etch their names into baseball history.

Miami Heat: 27 Games

(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

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The Miami Heat showed no mercy throughout the 2012-2013 NBA season, taking home the NBA championship and a record to go with it.

The Heat began their historic 27-game winning streak on February 3, 2013, in a 100-85 win over the Toronto Raptors. They went on to face solid teams such as the Rockets, Clippers, Lakers, Thunder, and the Knicks, beating them all. The King, LeBron James, spearheaded this streak, with an impressive 39-point performance in a close game against Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

The rest of the season was no different. Besides two losses, one against the Bulls and Knicks, the Heat wiped out any team that stood in front of them and cleared their path to the NBA Playoffs. The Heat went on to win the NBA Finals, beating the San Antonio Spurs in seven games.

Spain: 38 Games

(Photo by Alex Pantling – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

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Thirty-eight matches unbeaten; that’s Spain’s record since March 2024, and a loss doesn’t appear to be anywhere in its near future.

Spain’s dominance is now known worldwide following its 2026 FIFA World Cup triumph, but most fans are unaware of just how long La Roja has been dominating for. Navigating through friendlies, UEFA Nations League games, the European Championship, and a short while ago, the World Cup, Spain has not suffered one loss.

During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Spain not only beat each team it went up against, but it only allowed a singular goal — against Belgium — across the entire tournament. Besides that, it kept a clean sheet against every country it matched up against. Spain’s win against Argentina not only earned it a World Cup trophy, but it also dethroned Italy’s all-time men’s international unbeaten record of 37 matches.

Now, this streak lives on. Can Spain extend this record, or will another country enter the conversation?

Spain’s Best Moments 2026 FIFA World Cup™ 🇪🇸

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UConn Huskies: 111 Games

(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

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From November 23, 2014, to March 31, 2017, the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team could not be stopped, going 111 straight games without being beaten. 

During this streak, they won two national titles, with the latter completing a run of four consecutive championships from 2013 to 2016. They also managed to reach the Final Four for the tenth consecutive time.

This 859-day stretch was not out-of-the-ordinary for the Huskies. In fact, UConn owns four out of the five longest winning streaks in D1 women’s basketball history. The constant variable every year? Legendary head coach, Geno Auriemma. He began his reign in 1985, and over the course of his 41-year tenure, he has set the records for the most NCAA Division I women’s basketball championships (12) and the most wins by an NCAA Division I women’s basketball coach. 

The UConn Huskies women’s basketball team and their dominance was no accident;just pure unadulterated talent.

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Jürgen Klopp has confirmed he is closing in on becoming Germany’s next head coach after agreeing a ‘generous’ exit arrangement with Red Bull group. 

The former Liverpool manager says only formal discussions remain before an official announcement, with the DFB edging closer to appointing its preferred candidate.

Klopp Says Move Is Nearing Completion

Klopp has confirmed he is on the verge of taking charge of Germany after reaching an agreement with Red Bull that clears the biggest obstacle to his appointment. The 59-year-old, who became Red Bull’s Head of Global Soccer in early 2025, said negotiations are progressing well.

Klopp explained that while his departure from Red Bull has been agreed, the formal process with the German Football Association (DFB) is still ongoing. According to Sky Sports Germany, Klopp could be officially unveiled as Germany’s new head coach on Friday if the remaining formalities are completed. The appointment would mark his return to management after leaving Liverpool in 2024.

Klopp Outlines Progress Towards Germany Job

Speaking to MagentaTV, Klopp admitted that the process is not yet complete but believes an announcement is close. “Nothing is final yet, but talks have been ongoing and everything is moving in the right direction,” Klopp said. “I’ve reached an agreement with Red Bull, a very generous one, so there’s really nothing standing in the way.”

He added that discussions within the DFB still need to be completed before anything is made official, stating: “However, many more discussions need to take place because we’re talking to a governing body and a lot of people need to be informed. Nothing has been decided, but we’re not far from being able to make an announcement. Ideally, it should happen in the next few days; the decision will be made.”

Götze Backs His former Mentor

The news has been met with widespread approval from within the German football community, including former stars who flourished under Klopp’s guidance. Mario Götze, the hero of Germany’s 2014 World Cup triumph, believes his former Dortmund boss is the perfect man to revive the national side’s fortunes.

“What he understands, and what most coaches may not, is how to manage people,” Gotze said in an interview with The Athletic. “Managing players, managing expectations, putting people together as a whole, he understood that in the perfect way.

“He can be very sharp about what he wants and demands. That’s why he was so successful. I read an interview when he was at Liverpool: He said he has to put people who like each other together so they can perform at 120 per cent instead of 100 percent. That is what he did.”

Germany Hope Klopp Can Lead A Revival

Germany are looking to turn the page after a difficult period marked by three disappointing World Cup campaigns. The DFB views Klopp as the ideal figure to oversee the team’s rebuild, with his previous success at Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool making him one of football’s most respected coaches.

Klopp is also expected to reshape the national team’s coaching structure, with plans to build a backroom staff capable of implementing the high-intensity style that defined his club career. Sporting director Rudi Völler is set to remain in his current role, providing continuity within the DFB.

The remaining discussions between Klopp and the DFB are expected to conclude in the coming days. 

If everything proceeds as planned, Germany will formally appoint their new head coach before attention turns to assembling his coaching staff and beginning preparations for the next phase of the national team’s rebuild.

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