As anticipation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup builds, Germany’s football scene is buzzing—not just about the team’s prospects on the pitch, but also about who might be joining Julian Nagelsmann’s coaching bench. The latest swirl of speculation centers on Thomas Müller, the legendary 36-year-old forward now plying his trade for Vancouver Whitecaps. Could the 2014 World Cup hero soon be donning a suit and tie as an assistant coach for Die Mannschaft? While the idea is tantalizing for fans and pundits alike, the reality is a bit more complicated—and the story is still unfolding.
On October 9, 2025, Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann addressed the growing rumors in a press conference ahead of a World Cup qualifying clash against Luxembourg. The question on everyone’s mind: Could Müller, with his vast experience and leadership, step into a coaching role for the national team as early as next summer? The answer, for now, leans towards a cautious maybe.
“Thomas could definitely take on such a role. He still has a contract with Vancouver until December 2026. As far as I know, training is set to start around June 26, 2026. I don’t think the coach would be thrilled if Thomas said he’d arrive two or three weeks late because he wants to serve as an assistant coach,” Nagelsmann remarked, according to several German outlets. The coach’s words echoed both respect for Müller’s abilities and a pragmatic view of the logistical hurdles involved.
It’s not just Nagelsmann who sees coaching potential in Müller. Ernst Tanner, sporting director of MLS club Philadelphia Union and a respected voice in German football, has openly floated the idea of Müller becoming a co-coach for the 2026 World Cup. The suggestion has caught fire among fans, with many imagining the 2014 World Cup winner’s tactical nous and infectious energy invigorating the German sideline in North America.
Müller’s credentials are, of course, impeccable. After spending his entire professional career at Bayern Munich, amassing 131 caps and 45 goals for the German national team, and lifting the World Cup trophy in Brazil, he made a surprise move to Vancouver Whitecaps as a free agent in August 2025. Since arriving in Major League Soccer, Müller has been nothing short of electric—scoring goals, creating chances, and, as Nagelsmann put it, “pushing the game forward.”
“I've spoken with him a few times; he’s having a great time in Vancouver right now, playing well, scoring a lot of goals. He’s driving football forward there and will want to continue doing so beyond the World Cup. That’s why I’m going out on a limb and saying he won’t be an assistant coach for me or any other coach this summer,” Nagelsmann elaborated, as captured by @iMiaSanMia.
Still, the door isn’t entirely closed. Nagelsmann, who himself is only 38 and already one of the brightest minds in international football, left room for future developments: “What isn’t there yet could still happen sometime in the future. He has what it takes to be both head coach and assistant coach.” It’s a sentiment that keeps hopes alive for fans who’ve watched Müller grow from a precocious talent at Bayern to a global football icon.
For now, though, Müller’s immediate focus remains on his playing career in Vancouver. The Canadian club expects him to honor his contract, which runs through December 2026, and to report for preseason training in late June of that year. As Nagelsmann wryly noted, “I don’t think their coach will be happy if Thomas turns up two or three weeks later and says he was my assistant coach.” It’s a situation that makes a World Cup coaching cameo in 2026 all but impossible—unless something dramatic changes in the months ahead.
The conversation around Müller’s future isn’t happening in a vacuum. Leadership and mentorship are front and center for Germany as they prepare for their next World Cup qualifying test. Serge Gnabry, now 30 and one of the team’s elder statesmen, spoke at a DFB press event about how he’s embracing a mentorship role for younger players—just as Mesut Özil, Sami Khedira, and Thomas Müller once did for him. “I’m also trying to use my experience to help out the younger players,” Gnabry said. “Just like Mesut Özil, Sami Khedira, and Thomas Müller helped me out when I was younger.”
Gnabry’s own journey has mirrored the evolution of German football’s new generation. Having played under Nagelsmann during his loan spell at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Gnabry blossomed into a €90 million talent at Bayern Munich. His recent form—three goals and three assists in just six Bundesliga matches this season—has drawn praise from both Nagelsmann and Bayern’s new coach, Vincent Kompany, who called him “a very underrated and highly appreciated player.”
“Serge feels a lot of confidence and goes into games feeling very liberated,” Nagelsmann observed at the DFB press conference. “It’s clear that it’s good for his game, because he’s not someone who worries much. Serge is in great shape physically after having had a few niggles in the past. The Bundesliga season has been going very, very well for Serge so far.” Gnabry himself noted, “Goals and assists naturally help an attacking player to feel a certain lightness. You get into a flow and don’t worry too much about whether you’ll play again in the next game. I want to bring my form to this team.”
As Germany prepares to host Luxembourg at the PreZero Arena in Sinsheim—a venue with personal significance for Gnabry, who played there under Nagelsmann—the team is looking to blend experience and youth, with leadership figures like Gnabry and, perhaps one day, Müller guiding the next generation.
So, will Thomas Müller be on the German bench as a coach at the 2026 World Cup? For now, it seems unlikely. His playing commitments in Vancouver, contractual obligations, and the timing of the World Cup all conspire against an immediate transition from pitch to dugout. But Nagelsmann’s comments leave just enough room for fans to dream. “Thomas is exactly the name to consider for that role,” he admitted. The story isn’t over yet—and in football, as in life, the future often holds surprises.
For now, Germany’s focus remains firmly on the present: World Cup qualification, the development of emerging stars, and the hope that legends like Müller will continue to inspire—whether from the field or, someday, from the sidelines.
