Germany's disappointing exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues to generate controversy, with former captain Lothar Matthäus revealing details about internal problems that allegedly affected the team's concentration throughout the tournament.

Speaking to Bild, the 1990 World Cup winner said Germany's training camp was overshadowed by off-field distractions involving players' families, creating unnecessary tension within the squad.

"There was a lot to deal with, both on and off the pitch. There were problems involving wives, families—there was everything," Matthäus said.

According to the German legend, disagreements emerged over travel arrangements for relatives. While some players were allowed to bring certain family members on team flights, others saw their relatives forced to travel on commercial airlines, leading to frustration inside the dressing room.

"One player was upset because another player's mother could travel on the team plane, while someone else was allowed to bring his wife and children. Other families had to travel on commercial flights," Matthäus explained.

He also questioned the decision to allow families to join the squad so early in the tournament, arguing that it shifted the team's attention away from football.

"In the end, there was a lot of turmoil that never became public. The focus simply wasn't on the World Cup. They hadn't even been in the United States for two weeks before their families were already there. They could have waited until the quarterfinals," he concluded.

Matthäus' comments add to the growing criticism surrounding Germany's latest World Cup disappointment after its penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay. The early exit marked the third consecutive World Cup in which Germany failed to reach the Round of 16, intensifying scrutiny over head coach Julian Nagelsmann and the future direction of German football.

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