Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has expressed genuine excitement ahead of his side’s upcoming international friendly against Ghana, describing the fixture as an important benchmark in their build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The four-time world champions will welcome the Black Stars to Stuttgart on March 30, 2026, with the match scheduled to kick off at 20:45 GMT. The encounter forms part of Germany’s broader preparations as they fine-tune their squad and tactical approach for the global showpiece.
Speaking about the tie to the press, Nagelsmann underlined the value of facing African opposition of Ghana’s calibre.
“We are very much looking forward to the clash with Otto [Addo]’s team,” Nagelsmann said. “Their strong transition play can give us a taste of what to expect in the World Cup group match against the Ivory Coast”.
Germany and Ghana share a short but memorable history at the World Cup. The Black Stars narrowly fell 1-0 to the Germans during the 2010 tournament in South Africa, before producing a thrilling 2-2 draw at the 2014 edition in Brazil.
Looking ahead to the 2026 finals, Ghana have been placed in Group L, where they will battle England, Croatia and Panama for a place in the knockout rounds. Germany, on the other hand, will compete in Group E alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Curaçao and Ecuador.
The Stuttgart showdown is therefore expected to offer both sides a valuable early indicator of their readiness, while also rekindling a rivalry that has previously delivered drama on the world’s biggest stage.
