2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in North America as Germany's team settles in for tournament

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has begun across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Germany's national team flew from Frankfurt to Chicago on 2 June, staying at the Waldorf Astoria and training on the FC Chicago Fire campus. After five days in Herzogenaurach, the squad moved to Winston‑Salem, North Carolina, where it is based at The Graylyn Estate and trains at Wake Forest University's sports campus. The team will open its group stage with matches against Curacao (14 June in Houston), the Ivory Coast (20 June in Toronto) and Ecuador (25 June in New York).

Ahead of the tournament, ARD aired the documentary “Spielfeld der Macht,” featuring journalists Ingo Zamperoni and Philipp Awounou. They discuss how the World Cup intersects with U.S. politics, mentioning former President Donald Trump and noting that “Der Fisch stinkt vom Kopf.” The program examines concerns about the political climate, ticket prices and fan travel, framing the event as both a sporting spectacle and a political stage.