German Football Association raided as ticket scandal emerges after World Cup shock

Germany’s men’s national team suffered an early exit from the FIFA World Cup 2026, losing on penalties to Paraguay in the round of 32. The defeat sparked criticism of coach Julian Nagelsmann and a clumsy social‑media post by Chancellor‑designate Friedrich Merz.

Within two days, German investigators raided the headquarters of the Deutscher Fußball‑Bund (DFB) in Frankfurt and searched municipal offices in Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Munich and other host‑city administrations. Prosecutors in Bochum and the North‑Rhine Westphalia criminal office said the probe targets alleged illegal allocation of Euro 2024 tickets and hospitality packages to public officials. The case centers on a 66‑year‑old former Gelsenkirchen municipal employee and a 46‑year‑old French national linked to the Euro 2024 GmbH joint venture. The suspects are accused of receiving unauthorized benefits worth about €2,400 each, including match tickets, travel and hotel stays. Interior Minister Herbert Reul warned that “a football ticket is not part of anyone’s salary” and pledged strict enforcement.