Germany's World Cup exit blamed on family distractions, says Lothar Matthäus

Germany were eliminated from the 2026 World Cup after a penalty‑shootout loss to Paraguay in the round of 16 at Boston Stadium. Former captain Lothar Matthäus blamed the defeat on off‑field distractions, saying that the presence of wives, families and even mothers travelling with the squad created “a lot of unrest” and turned the tournament into “free family days”. He added that inconsistent travel arrangements and hotel bookings fueled frustration among players. The loss marks the four‑time champion’s first ever shootout defeat and sends Paraguay on to face France in the quarter‑finals.

Matthäus told Bild that families should have joined later in the competition, noting that the focus was not on the World Cup but on personal affairs.