Germany gears up for World Cup 2026 with fan surveys, public viewing sites and DFB lineup talk

A fan poll conducted during the 2026 World Cup shows German supporters rating France as the clear favorite (55 % of votes) and naming Norway as a possible surprise (13 %). Kylian Mbappé leads the race for the Golden Shoe, followed by Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland, while Lamine Yamal is the top pick for the Young Player award. The average referee rating is 4.1, and fans approve recent rule tweaks on time‑wasting and unsporting behaviour. Former national coach Rudi Völler retains majority backing (56 % positive), and many view Jürgen Klopp as a potential catalyst for the team.

DFB reporter Thomas Wagner presented a speculative future German XI on the "WM‑WG" show. His selections include goalkeeper Marc‑Andre ter Stegen (if fit), defenders Schlotterbeck, Bisseck and Malick Thiaw, full‑backs Nathaniel Brown and a surprise left‑back Pinto Pedrosa, midfielders Joshua Kimmich and Nmecha, and attackers Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Deniz Undav and Lennart Karl.

Across the Bodensee region, a range of venues – from restaurants in Friedrichshafen and Überlingen to the Kulturhaus Caserne and the Kramer‑Areal hall – have announced public‑viewing events for the tournament, many offering free entry and food‑service. These sites will broadcast all German matches and, from the quarter‑finals onward, all games of the competition.