Wire flash
Kimmich last to leave German team hotel after World Cup exit, apologized to staff
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Source reporting is collected, normalized, translated or condensed automatically when needed.
- Automatically published source-backed update
Following Germany's shock round-of-32 elimination against Paraguay at the 2026 World Cup, captain Joshua Kimmich remained at the team hotel 'Graylyn Estate' in Winston-Salem for an additional day and a half, becoming the last player to depart. According to Spiegel, the Bayern Munich star repeatedly apologized to DFB staff for the early exit and asked if there was anything more he could do. Kimmich, 31, described himself as 'empty' in an Instagram post and acknowledged the team's failure to represent Germany worthily. Despite the disappointment, he insisted he will not give up on his national team career. The elimination marked his third World Cup without a title, following group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022. Under coach Julian Nagelsmann, Kimmich was deployed at right-back rather than his preferred defensive midfield role.
Source report
It was as if he did not want to accept the early World Cup exit. Joshua Kimmich (31) was the last to leave the German team hotel "Graylyn Estate," the DFB quarters in Winston-Salem.
According to a report by Spiegel, the captain of the German national team stayed for another day and a half after the bitter elimination against Paraguay before he too departed as the last player.
A Captain's Response
The Bayern star could not and did not want to simply head off on vacation — not after everything that had happened. Following weak performances on the pitch and inconsistencies within the team, Kimmich is said to have exchanged words with DFB staff, asking if there was anything else to be done. He is also reported to have "apologized repeatedly for the elimination," according to Spiegel.
Tournament Record
For Kimmich, this was his fifth major tournament and his third World Cup. He has not won a title. His World Cup record stands as follows:
- Russia 2018: Group stage exit
- Qatar 2022: Group stage exit
- USA, Mexico, Canada 2026: Round of 32 exit (1–2 after extra time against Paraguay)
No Plans to Quit
Immediately after the elimination, Kimmich made it clear that this was not the end of his national team career — and possibly not his last World Cup:
"I will always have the power for another attempt. What I will never do is: give up."
Message to Fans
Two days after the exit, the Bayern player addressed German fans via Instagram:
"I am just empty right now and I don't feel like reaching out at all. But it's part of it to face these situations as well. Together we planned to play a very successful World Cup, to represent Germany worthily, and to make a small contribution to a positive development in our country. And we failed. Once again. And that destroys me."
Positional Note
Under national coach Julian Nagelsmann (38), Kimmich was deployed as a right-back rather than his preferred position in defensive midfield.
Source: BILD, 07/15/2026
Source
BILD - SportWestern
Part of this Story
Germany Captain Kimmich Last to Leave Hotel After World Cup Exit