Andreas Rettig: 'You can't separate sports and politics'

"“The goal would be for us to ultimately rank among the top five nations in the world. If we perform better than our current FIFA World Ranking [ninth], that would be a success,” Rettig told DW."

"“We live in a time when we are confronted every day with things that leave me at a loss,” said Rettig. “There are a lot of irrational things going on that have nothing to do with football, things that just make you shake your head. Our values-based order has fallen into disarray.”"

"“While not a fan of the bloated 48-team World Cup this summer, Andreas Rettig admits anticipation is high as Germany enter the decisive phase of their preparation.”"

"“Inflated ticket prices, entry bans for five participating nations, excessively high local transportation costs, and geopolitical tensions in the major host nation the USA are causing great concern among fans.”"

Germany enters the decisive phase of preparation for the 2026 World Cup with high anticipation despite concerns about the expanded 48-team format. After two World Cup campaigns ended with failure to advance from the group stage, the clear objective is to rank among the top five nations worldwide and to improve beyond the current ninth position in the FIFA World Ranking. Attention is also drawn to non-football issues affecting fans, including inflated ticket prices, entry bans for five participating nations, high local transportation costs, and geopolitical tensions in the United States. Concerns include the conflict involving Iran and domestic political debates tied to harsh ICE tactics. Germany’s leadership emphasizes that players should not be silenced on such matters.

Read at www.dw.com