New York meeting seals key terms

DFB President Bernd Neuendorf and Vice President Hans-Joachim Watzke flew to New York specifically to meet Jürgen Klopp on Friday. The discussion took place at the TWA Hotel at John F. Kennedy International Airport and lasted more than four hours, Bild reported. Klopp's advisor Marc Kosicke also attended. A DFB statement issued on Saturday afternoon German time confirmed that the two sides had found common ground.

“During this constructive exchange, an agreement was reached on the key points of a potential contract.”

Talks are set to continue next week. Both the association and Klopp expressed confidence that a final deal can be reached, but stressed that any appointment requires resolving his existing commitments.

Red Bull exit remains a condition

Klopp has been Head of Global Soccer at the Red Bull group since January 2025, overseeing a multi-club network spanning Austria, Germany, Brazil, the United States and Japan. His current contract runs until 2029 and contains no exit clause, German media noted. Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff is expected to travel to New York in the coming days to discuss releasing Klopp for the national team role.

“Both sides are confident that the negotiations, subject to an agreement with Klopp's current employer Red Bull, can be successfully concluded.”

Reports from Germany suggest Red Bull is unlikely to block the move, and that Klopp could retain an ambassadorial link to the brand after stepping away from his executive duties.

Contract details and backroom staff

The prospective contract would tie Klopp to Germany through the 2030 World Cup. His annual salary is expected to be slightly above the 7 million euros paid to his predecessor, Julian Nagelsmann. Klopp intends to bring two long-time assistants: Peter Krawietz, who worked with him at Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool, and Pepijn Lijnders, who was also part of the Liverpool staff after a brief hiatus. The final contract must be approved by a joint meeting of the DFB supervisory board and shareholders' assembly.

Klopp, 59, has not taken a coaching role since leaving Liverpool in 2024. With Liverpool he won the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020, and earlier he claimed two Bundesliga titles and a DFB-Pokal with Dortmund.

Rebuilding after early exits

Germany has failed to advance beyond the last 16 of a major tournament since winning the 2014 World Cup. Under Joachim Löw the team exited in the group stage in 2018. Hansi Flick oversaw another group-stage departure at the 2022 World Cup. Julian Nagelsmann, who took over after that tournament, led Germany to a round-of-16 exit at the 2026 World Cup, losing to Paraguay on penalties after a 0-0 draw. Germany also missed the semi-finals at the last two European Championships, in 2020 and 2024.

What happens next

Negotiations between DFB officials and Klopp's camp resume next week. Oliver Mintzlaff's arrival in New York is central: a successful agreement with Red Bull would clear the way for Klopp to sign the contract. The DFB plans to submit any finalised deal to its governance bodies soon after. If concluded, Klopp would take charge of a team that has not won a knockout match at a major finals since 2016, with the 2030 World Cup cycle as his long-term mandate.