Top News

The excitement surrounding the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup continues to spread across regions, including Balikpapan City in East Kalimantan.

Several participating national teams are intensifying their preparations through a series of international friendlies ahead of the world’s biggest football tournament.

Among them, the German national team has once again become a focal point for football enthusiasts.

The squad led by head coach Julian Nagelsmann is widely regarded as having the strength to compete for the world title.

In Balikpapan, support for Die Mannschaft also comes from the Vice Chairman of the Balikpapan City Football Association (Askot PSSI Balikpapan), Iswanto.

Despite widespread predictions favouring Spain, France, Portugal, and Argentina, Iswanto confidently places his bet on Germany as one of the strongest contenders for the 2026 World Cup trophy.

“I’m backing Germany over other teams. My reason is simple — their players are exceptionally talented in my opinion,” said Iswanto in an interview on Wednesday (3 June 2026) in Balikpapan.

According to him, Germany’s main attraction lies in their aggressive and efficient style of play, which effectively breaks down opposing defences.

He admitted to having long admired the playing style of the team famously nicknamed Die Mannschaft.

“I like their penetrating through balls that directly attack the opponent’s defence. Their playing style, to me, is more exciting than most other teams,” he added.

Although many pundits are backing other major European nations, Iswanto remains convinced that Germany can make a strong impression in the four-yearly tournament.

“Some of my friends prefer Spain, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, and others, but I still choose Germany. Even though statistically there’s a dark horse like Japan from Asia, I’m confident Germany will prevail,” he said.

He further explained that his admiration for Germany is not without reason. In addition to their rich footballing history, the current German squad boasts a balanced mix of experienced veterans and talented young players.

“I’ve always liked Germany because their players have consistently been of high quality,” he added.

Beyond his support, Iswanto also mentioned the possibility of organising public viewing events during the 2026 World Cup.

“We might hold some watch parties, but we’ll have to decide the most suitable location first,” he noted.

For context, Germany will enter the 2026 World Cup with a full-strength squad.

Coach Julian Nagelsmann has finalised a 26-man roster featuring the best talents to represent Die Mannschaft in the tournament.

Star names such as Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Antonio Rüdiger, Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, and Kai Havertz are expected to form the backbone of the team.

The return of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from retirement has also been welcomed as positive news by German football fans.

His vast experience is expected to bring composure and stability to the team’s defensive line.

In midfield, the creative combination of Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala is predicted to be Germany’s key weapon in unlocking opposition defences.

Meanwhile, in attack, Kai Havertz and Leroy Sané are set to spearhead the team’s goal-scoring efforts.

For the 2026 World Cup, Germany has been placed in Group E alongside Ecuador, Ivory Coast, and Curacao.

“With the quality of players they have, Germany is clearly favoured to advance to the next round, but they still need to be cautious of potential surprises from their group opponents,” he concluded.