“Of course we want to become world champions,” said German national coach, Julian Nagelsmann, talking about the soccer world championships taking place in 2026 in the US, Mexico and Canada. The men’s team has won the title four times so far, the women’s team twice. Rainer Bonhof (1974), Pierre Littbarski (1990), Renate Lingor(2003 and 2007) and Joachim Löw (2014) know what it takes to bring home the trophy and they have wonderful tales to tell. But are some of the things they experienced along the way still valid today? Is the key to success having talented soccer players, extraordinary coaches or a particular kind of team spirit? And what role do chance and good or bad luck play in tournaments? Author and sports journalist Christoph Biermann (“Die Tabelle lügt immer. Über die Macht des Zufalls im Fußball”) guides us through the evening.

Contributors

Joachim Löw © Granada

Joachim Löw

Joachim Löw, born in Schönau in 1960, is a former German soccer coach a… This text was shortened for this overview. Follow the more-link to read the full text.

More About Joachim Löw

Pierre Littbarski © privat

Pierre Littbarski

Pierre Michael Littbarski, geboren 1960 in Berlin, ist einer der… This text was shortened for this overview. Follow the more-link to read the full text.

More About Pierre Littbarski

Rainer Bonhof ©

Rainer Bonhof

Rainer Bonhof, born in Emmerich in 1952, is a former German-Dutch… This text was shortened for this overview. Follow the more-link to read the full text.

More About Rainer Bonhof

Renate Lingor © DFB Thomas Böcker

Renate Lingor

During her career as a Bundesliga soccer player, which lasted from… This text was shortened for this overview. Follow the more-link to read the full text.

More About Renate Lingor

Christoph Biermann © Norman Posselt

Christoph Biermann

Christoph Biermann, born 1960, is a member of the editorial board of… This text was shortened for this overview. Follow the more-link to read the full text.

More About Christoph Biermann

Event data

Partners

WDR Schwalbe
Hauptsponsor
Thalia Hauptsponsor lit.COLOGNE
Hauptsponsor
RheinEnergie
Hauptsponsor
Flossbach von Storch
Sponsorpartner
NetCologne
Sponsorpartner
NRW Bank
Sponsorpartner
Juwelier Gadebusch
Sponsorpartner
Sparkasse KölnBonn
Förderer
Otto Wolff Stiftung
Förderer
Victor Rolff Stiftung
Förderer
Imhoff Stiftung
Förderer
Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen
Medienpartner
WDR
Medienpartner
Kölner Stadt Anzeiger
Kooperationspartner
Stadt Köln
...
Partner