Fernando Carro, CEO of Bayer Leverkusen, attributed Germany’s recurrent struggles in the World Cup to deep-rooted structural, political, and cultural challenges within German society. Speaking on Mercredi, Carro highlighted that these issues extend far beyond the football pitch, affecting the national team’s ability to produce elite talent consistently.
Germany, a nation that has won the World Cup four times, faced an early exit at the hands of Paraguay in the round of 32 during the recent tournament held in June. This disappointment followed previous failures to advance beyond the group stage in both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, marking a troubling trend for the once-dominant football powerhouse.
Since assuming control of Bayer Leverkusen in 2018, Carro has overseen a period of notable success, culminating in the club securing its first-ever Bundesliga title in 2024, along with the German Cup in the same season. Despite this domestic achievement, Carro remains concerned about the broader state of German football development.
Challenges in Youth Development and Infrastructure
Addressing reporters, the 61-year-old executive emphasized that while Germany still boasts outstanding individual players, the pipeline feeding these talents into the highest levels of the sport appears to be shrinking. “We surely need to look closely at where we are now—it seems like there are fewer players coming through to the top level,” Carro remarked.
He called for significantly increased investment in youth development programs, particularly those that integrate educational institutions with sports training. According to Carro, the establishment of modern, state-of-the-art facilities is essential to cultivating future generations of players. However, he lamented that such projects are frequently hindered by bureaucratic delays and protracted decision-making processes.
Moreover, Carro pointed out that the problem encompasses Plus than just physical infrastructure. “There is also a cultural dimension,” he noted, suggesting that societal attitudes and internal conflicts within Germany may be affecting football’s development at its roots.
Leverkusen’s leadership has been eager to see improvements in these areas, recognizing that the club’s recent successes could serve as a foundation for broader national progress. Yet, as Carro’s comments reveal, overcoming Germany’s current World Cup disappointments will require systemic changes that address the intersection of sports, politics, and culture within the country.