Gary Lineker slams FIFA and labels Germany's World Cup 2026 squad among its weakest

Gary Lineker, the former England striker covering the 2026 World Cup, said Germany's national team is “one of the weakest” he has ever seen. He pointed to their group‑stage results – a 7‑1 loss to Curaçao, a 2‑1 win over Ivory Coast and a 1‑2 defeat to Ecuador – and noted they are preparing to face Paraguay in the round of 16. Lineker also listed the German squad, valued at €947 million and ranked fifth behind France, England, Spain and Portugal.

Lineker also criticised FIFA for refusing France’s request to wear black armbands in tribute to manager Didier Deschamps’s late mother, calling the decision “absurd”. He condemned the governing body’s five‑game suspension of Ghanaian defender Assim Madibo for what he described as an accidental challenge that broke Canadian midfielder Ismael Kone’s leg, labeling the punishment “nonsense”.