German National Team Draws Fans in Wake Forest Ahead of World Cup
In a vibrant display of soccer enthusiasm, the German Men’s National Soccer Team hosted an open training session on Monday night in Winston-Salem, marking their preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The event took place at Spry Stadium on the Wake Forest campus, setting the stage for a summer filled with anticipation.
Fans of all ages flooded the stadium, creating a lively atmosphere as they gathered to witness the world-renowned team in action. The evening commenced with speeches from Wake Forest’s soccer coaches and the president of the German Football Federation, who expressed gratitude for the warm welcome extended by the local community.
The training session was met with enthusiastic applause as the German players took to the field, providing fans a rare glimpse of their favorite athletes honing their skills.
For Daniel Sellner, a Wake Forest alumnus, the experience was particularly special. “This is incredible,” Sellner remarked. “I think to be able to come back here, you know, I went to Wake soccer camps as a kid, and now to come back here and see the German national team just days before the World Cup, I think, is a pretty amazing experience.”
Leann Hacket, who attended with her husband and two young sons dressed in soccer jerseys, shared her excitement: “Yeah, we’re just really happy to be here,” she said. “It’s a very rare, exciting event, so we’re excited to be invited.”
The presence of the German team also resonated with native German Lars Helmle. “I think it’s huge that a team like Germany’s here, you know, international attention, so I think it’s great to see,” he noted.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, running from June 11 to July 19 across North America, Germany is set to kick off their campaign with their first match against Curaçao on Sunday in Houston. Soccer enthusiasts are eagerly looking forward to witnessing the team’s performance on the global stage.
