BERLIN: Former German international Rudi Voeller will take over as director for the men’s national team, the German Football Association said Thursday, following a disastrous World Cup campaign in Qatar.
Voeller’s job would be to “lay the foundations for a successful home European Championship in 2024,” which will be hosted in Germany, he said in a statement.
The four-time winners crashed out in the group stages of the World Cup for the second time in a row, leading team director Oliver Bierhoff to step aside in December.
Voeller will take over the role for the senior men’s team on February 1.
The former International’s appointment came at the suggestion of a task force established by the DFB in December, which included Voeller himself.
“With Rudi Voeller, we have found the ideal person for the next 20 months,” DFB president Bernd Neuendorf said in a statement.
A prolific goalscorer in his playing days, and later coach, Voeller enjoys a cult-like status in Germany.
The striker scored 47 goals in 90 games for West Germany and Germany, eight of which came at World Cup level.
Voeller lifted the World Cup with Germany in 1990, winning a late penalty as his side triumphed 1-0 over Argentina.
He went on to coach the national side, taking them to the 2002 World Cup final, losing 2-0 to Brazil.
Voeller also worked as a sporting director, helping establish Bayer Leverkusen as one of the country’s biggest clubs during two stints with the side.
Voeller to be German team director after World Cup disaster
https://arab.news/7mgw9
Voeller to be German team director after World Cup disaster
- Voeller's job would be to "lay the foundations for a successful home European Championship in 2024"
- The 1990 world champion will take over the role for the senior men's team on February 1
Esports World Cup Foundation launches Road to EWC program
- More than 230 events globally will connect multiple game ecosystems into a single season, with the Esports World Cup 2026 the ultimate destination
RIYADH: The Esports World Cup Foundation has launched its global Road to EWC qualification program for its premier event in 2026.
Featuring more than 230 tournaments across every major esports region and competition level, the Road to EWC 2026 connects publisher-led leagues, elite international events, and qualifiers into a single season-long pathway.
This program will culminate in the Esports World Cup 2026 in Riyadh from July 6 through to Aug. 23, 2026.
The qualification process creates opportunities for players and clubs, from grassroots to professional, to compete on the world’s biggest esports stage.
The structure is designed to support competitive integrity, long-term investment, and the sustainable growth of the global esports industry.
“Road to EWC brings together the journeys that shape competitive esports,” said Faisal bin Homran, chief product officer of the Esports World Cup Foundation.
“By creating a defined qualification season, it gives the whole industry the confidence to plan; players can focus on performance, clubs can commit resources earlier, publishers can align their ecosystems, and fans know when and where the biggest moments will happen.
“If we keep building together, we will grow the sport in a way that is sustainable, inclusive and truly global.”
The Road to EWC will be integrated into the global esports ecosystem, utilizing official leagues and premier tournaments as qualification pathways.
This includes the Apex Legends Global Series, Capcom Cup, Chess.com Global Championship, Combo Breaker, CROSSFIRE Pro League, EA Sports FC Pro, EVO and Free Fire World Series.
Also included are Fortnite Reload Elite Series, King Pro League (Honor of Kings), Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang MWI 2026, Overwatch Champions Series, PUBG Global Series, and PUBG MOBILE Global Open.
Other contests include the Rocket League Championship Series, the SNK World Championship (Fatal Fury), TEKKEN World Tour Finals, Call of Duty, League of Legends, Fortnite, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, Trackmania, and VALORANT.
The open online qualifiers and community competitions will run across Call of Duty: Warzone, Dota 2, Teamfight Tactics, and Chess, providing accessible routes to qualification for grassroots players who want to compete with the best.
Throughout the season, the Road to EWC multi-channel marketing campaign will deliver match highlights, pro player interviews, live streams videos on demand, and on-site coverage from influencers and creators.
