While most headlines about Germany's 2026 World Cup squad focused on the return of Manuel Neuer, another story lies beneath the surface. Eight of the 26 players representing Germany this summer have African roots: Jonathan Tah (Ivorian father), Antonio Rüdiger (Sierra Leonean mother), Leroy Sane (Senegalese father), Felix Nmecha and Jamal Musiala (both Nigerian fathers), Assan Ouedraogo (both parents from Burkina Faso), Malick Thiaw (Senegalese father), and Jamie Leweling (Ghanaian father).

Over the past year, a total of 17 players with African heritage have been called up to the German national team. The connection between German footballers and African countries is undeniable and of great importance at the 2026 World Cup. Annalena Baerbock, President of the UN General Assembly, told DW: "Today we have great diversity in the team, which symbolizes a new generation of German players. That wasn't always the case. That shows how important anti-racism campaigns are. A team is also always a reflection of society."

Musa Okwonga, a Ugandan-British author and football podcaster based in Berlin, believes the timing of this team's diversity is significant. "With the far right leading some major polls in Germany by five, six, seven points, and a quarter of immigrants thinking about leaving, it's important to show that there are people thriving here who are not white, who have a heritage from elsewhere, and have made Germany their home," Okwonga told DW.

The German Football Association (DFB) has not explicitly highlighted the diversity but acknowledges its significance. DFB Director Andreas Rettig told DW: "At the end of the day, everyone is united to make a decision by conviction. We were happy to see an early commitment to the Germany team, as with Jonathan Tah. We know from the economy that mixed teams are always advantageous to the end product, so we are happy to have this diversity in the team."

In early 2025, Tah visited Ivory Coast for the first time since he was 14, calling the trip "extremely grounding." Rüdiger has also set up a foundation in Sierra Leone. Okwonga noted: "Going back to a place where you have benefited from Western European colonial extraction, and seeing relatives you were with two generations ago, is hard for a lot of people."

Given Germany's colonial history in Namibia, Tanzania, Cameroon, and Togo, connecting to one's country of origin and new home brings conflicting emotions. Okwonga believes the visibility of footballers with African roots who are equally proud of Germany as their home is an important symbol.

Ahead of Euro 2024, head coach Julian Nagelsmann criticized a WDR survey showing 21% of respondents wanted more white players on the national team. Nagelsmann said: "A football team can be a role model for uniting different cultures, religious backgrounds, and skin color. It is good the way it is now. We play the Euros for everyone in the country, and whoever plays top football is invited to be a national team member."

Okwonga added: "In 12 years in Berlin, the team I saw at the Euros was the best version of a Germany team. Vincent Kompany as Bayern Munich head coach has also positively impacted the environment for German players with African roots."

Much has changed since Gerald Asamoah became the first African-born German to appear at a World Cup in 2006. However, incidents like the 2023 racist abuse of two German youth internationals after missed penalties show the issue persists. Okwonga said: "The diversity of this team is not about those who hate to see it. It's about modeling that friendship across all groups is possible. If they don't win, it's not because the multi-ethnic project failed, but because they were beaten by a better team."

Germany is not a favorite for the World Cup, but a win could have social and political impact. Okwonga explained: "If Germany wins, it's primarily a triumph for the players and supporters. I don't think it's a point of political leverage in a progressive sense, because too many other things are going wrong in Germany. Success on the football field can be a catalyst in the right political context, but unfortunately, I do not believe this is the right context."

With or without the right context, the diverse heritage of this German team deserves recognition.

Source: www.dw.com