At 10:30 p.m. German time, the whistle will blow for the German national soccer team's first game in the knockout round of the 2026 World Cup. While a final meal together is taking place before the trip to the stadium, one of the German stars appears quite cool despite the upcoming showdown.
Did Kai Havertz sleep well?
The German Football Association is giving fans a small glimpse into the daily schedule before the match. After the squad already traveled from the team quarters in Winston-Salem in North Carolina, the professional players are spending a fairly manageable day until kickoff. After breakfast, there was an initial meeting in the morning, followed by an activation session.
There's also another meal together. Around 1:00 p.m. local time, a pre-match meal is scheduled. After another meeting, it's off to the stadium around 2:15 p.m. The hotel is located in the city of Quincy, according to the DFB about 30 kilometers from the stadium in Foxborough, where the team will face Paraguay from 4:30 p.m. local time. Regardless of how the game turns out, the DFB team will fly back to the team quarters after the match.
In an interview with Sportschau recorded the day before (local time), Kai Havertz (27) indicated that the excitement before the game probably won't keep him awake - even though it's his first match in a World Cup knockout round and the German team's first knockout game at a World Cup in about twelve years.
There's definitely a tingle, Havertz reported in the conversation. Everyone is already looking forward to the game. When asked how one sleeps before such an important match, the 27-year-old appeared quite relaxed: I generally always sleep quite well. We'll see. He could say more about it on game day, but at the moment it's not clear whether he actually slept well. The team is going into the game with confidence and he's certain that the German players can deliver when it counts, he continued.
On Instagram, the German Football Association is showing the final preparations. In the stories, the DFB shares impressions before the flight to Boston, the arrival in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, and some of the team's stars like Manuel Neuer (40) signing autographs. Fans also get final impressions of the team, apparently taken at the hotel.
Anyone who wants to follow the round of 16 live can watch the Germany vs. Paraguay match in Germany from 10:30 p.m. either via MagentaTV or on ZDF or through the public broadcaster's internet portal.
