The most controversial WAG of the 2026 World Cup: Quitting her job as a journalist to fall in love with the German national team coach, appearing so often that even the players feel embarrassed.
It’s not the wife or girlfriend of a football star, but the person currently making headlines in German media at the 2026 World Cup is the girlfriend of head coach Julian Nagelsmann.
The World Cup is always a stage not only for the players but also for famous WAGs (wives and girlfriends of footballers). Twenty years ago, Victoria Beckham and Cheryl Tweedy caused quite a stir in the press, constantly appearing on the front pages during England’s participation in the 2006 World Cup. At times, the off-field stories of these WAGs even garnered more attention than the players’ performances.
However, at the 2026 World Cup, the name attracting the most attention isn’t the wife or girlfriend of any star. The person causing a sensation in the German media is Lena Wurzenberger – the girlfriend of Germany’s head coach Julian Nagelsmann.
According to German media, Lena was present almost everywhere the German national team was. She was at the pre-tournament training camp in Frankfurt, watching training sessions from the stands, appearing at the team hotel, and frequently accompanying Nagelsmann in his daily activities.
After Germany’s 7-1 victory over Curaçao, Lena stayed on the pitch to watch the substitutes warm up. The next morning, she was spotted cycling with Nagelsmann to the training ground.
German media even revealed that Lena frequently sat very close to the coaching bench during the Mannschaft’s matches. Bild noted that no woman in German football had ever appeared publicly so often at a major tournament.
Lena’s constant presence is becoming a subject of debate. Some German journalists believe this could make the players feel uncomfortable.
Ảnh: Getty
Ảnh: Reuters
Ảnh: Getty
Because when the coach’s girlfriend is constantly present in spaces reserved for the national team, not everyone is willing to share their thoughts naturally. Even German football legend Lothar Matthäus spoke out. He said that Lena’s visits to the team hotel or meetings with Nagelsmann weren’t unusual. However, her frequent appearances in front of the media weren’t ideal.
This viewpoint quickly sparked debate on German social media. One side argued that it was simply Nagelsmann’s private life. But the other believed that the line between personal life and work needed to be more clearly defined within the national team environment.
What made Lena’s story even more noteworthy was her unusual past. Lena was a sports reporter for Bild, specializing in covering Bayern Munich. She and Nagelsmann met when he was still managing the Bavarian team.
In 2022, not long after Nagelsmann separated from his wife of 15 years, his relationship with the young female journalist was officially made public. This relationship quickly became a focal point in Germany. Many questioned why a reporter covering Bayern Munich would date the team’s head coach.
Lena subsequently left her position as a football reporter. She switched to police reporting before completely abandoning journalism to work in corporate communications. Many believe she sacrificed her career to protect her relationship with Nagelsmann.
Since then, the couple has been inseparable. After Germany’s victories, images of Nagelsmann going up to the stands to give his girlfriend a kiss have appeared numerous times in European media.
Lena often wears a German national team jersey, paints the flag on her cheek, and cheers enthusiastically like a true fan. If Germany continues to advance further in the 2026 World Cup, she will undoubtedly appear even more often.
